In coming down to Manchester to gain my liberty
I saw one of the prettiest girl that e’er my eyes did see
I saw one of the prettiest girls that e’er my eyes did see
At the Angel inn in Manchester there lives the girl for me.
It was early the next morning by the break of day,
I went to my love’s fire side my parting vows to pay
I huddled her and cuddled her and bade her to lie warm,
She says my jolly soldier do mean me any harm
To do you any harm my love is what I always scorn
If I stay with you all night my dear I’ll marry you next morn,
Before all of my officers these words I will fulfill
She says my jolly soldier you many do just as you will
On Thursday our rout did come on Monday marched away,
The drums and bugle horns so sweetly they did play
Some hearts they are merry love but mine was filled with woe,
Will you let go along with you? No no, my dear no
I’ll go down unto your officers and fall upon my knees.
Ten guineas I’ll surrender for to buy my love’s discharge.
But if that will not do my dear along with you I’ll go
Will you let me go along with you? No hang me if I do,
If I see you stand sentry on a cold rainy day.
Your colour it will go my love your beauty will decay,
If I see you stand sentry ’twill fill my heart with woe,
Stay at home my dearest Nancy but still she answer’d no,
I’ll go down to some nunnery and there I’ll end my life,
I never will be married nor yet become a wife
But constant and true hearted for ever still remain
And I never will be married till my soldier comes again.

*Transcriber’s note: Dugaw’s catalogue contains multiple variants of this ballad; this is the first of the variants listed. To review other variants of this ballad, please consult the Dugaw catalogue.