| Music File Barry Taylor |
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| This is a Canadian variant of Farewell, Nancy. Helen Creighton collected this song and it is in her book Maritime Folk Songs. The ballad is also in Malcolm Laws' American Balladry From British Broadsides as Farewell, Charming Nancy.
Farewell, Nancy appeared in Patrick Weston Joyce's Ancient Irish Music (1873 and 1888). According to the Ballad Index, it was printed on broadsides as early as 1855. |
Fare you well, lovely Molly, I am going to leave you And to the East Indies my course I will steer Don't let my long absence be a bother to you, dear For we will be married, you need never fear. Like some jolly little seaman I'll dress and go with you And in the midst of all danger I'll stand as your friend Those cold wintry winds, love, around you be blowing And I will be there for to wait on you then. Those pretty little hands, love, could not stand a rough tackling Those pretty little feet to the top could not go Those cold wintry winds you could not endure them So stay at home, darling, to the seas do not go. Those two lovers parted, they had kissed plenty The tears from her eyes down in fountains did pour Her lily-white hands on the deck she kept wringing Saying, "Fare you well, darling, I'll never see you more." As I was walking the streets of Philadelphia Strangee thoughts of my darling came into my mind I thought on the days, love, that we spent in courting But the salt seas have parted us now for a time. Don't let my long absence be a bother to you, dear Don't let my long journey cause you any pain Although we are parted I will be true hearted And I will return in the springtime again. |
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| Music from Barry Taylor Information From American Balladry from British Broadsides See Bibliography for full information. Also from Steve Roud's Folksong Index. |
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