sł. i mel. trad.

Here's adieu sweet lovely Nancy, ten thousand times adieu,
For I'm going across the ocean wide to seek for something new.
Come change your ring with me dear girl, come change your ring with me.
So it might be a token of our true love while I am on the sea.

And when I'm far across the sea, you'll know not where I am.
Kind letters I will write to you from every foreign land.
The secrets of my heart dear girl and the best of my goodwill,
So let my body be where it might, my heart will be with you still.

There's a heavy storm arising, see how it gathers round
While we poor souls on the ocean wide are fighting for the crown.
Our officers command us and them we must obey,
Expecting every moment for to be cast away.

There are tinkers, tailors and shoemakers, asnoring fast asleep
While we poor souls on the ocean wide are ploughing through the deep.
There's nothing to protect us, love, or keep us from the cold.
On the ocean wide where we must bide as jolly sailors bold.

And when the wars are all over there'll be peace on every shore,
We'll return to our wives and our families and the girls that we adore.
We'll call for liquor round by round and spend our money free
And when our money it is all gone we'll boldly go to sea.