Billy and Nancy’s Parting
The Jaunting Car; or, The Young Wife’s Lament,
To Which are added, &c.
Greenock–Printed by W. Scott.
Billy and Nancy’s Parting.
It was on a Monday morning,
Just at the break of day,
Our ship had slipt her cable,
And we were bound to sea;
The wind blew from the south east,
And from Greenock we were bound,
The streets they were all garnished
With pretty maids around.
There was a pretty sailor,
All in his blooming years,
He came unto his true love,
With bitter sighs and tears;
And he came unto his true love,
To let her understand,
That he was going to leave her
And sail for foreign land.
What, say you so, dear Billy?
These words do break my heart,
Come let us now be barried,
Before that we do part.
These fourteen weeks and longer
I’m going with child to thee,
So stay at home dear Billy,
Be kind and marry me.
If I should stay at home my dear,
Another would take my place,
It would be a shame to me, love,
Besides a sad disgrace;
The King he’s wanting men, my dear,
And I for one must go,
And for my very life, love,
I dare not answer no.
Well, I’ll cut off my yellow hair,
Man’s clothes I will put on,
And I will go along with you,
To be your waiting man;
Like a true and faithful servant,
I on my love shall wait,
No storm nor danger will I fear,
Let it be e’er so great.
Your waist it is too slender,
Your fingers are too small,
I fear you will not answer me,
When I do on you call;
When cannons they do rattle,
And bullets they do fly,
And silver trumpets sounding,
To drown the dreadful cry.
If I should meet a bonny lass,
That’s merry blythe and gay,
And on her set on her my fancy,
What would my Nancy say?
What would I say, dear WIlly,
Why, I would love her too,
‘Tis I would step aside, my dear,
‘Till she would pleasure you.
Why say you so, dear Nancy,
You now do gain my heart,
Come, let us now be marri’d
And we will never part.
This couple now are married,
And sailing o’er the main,
May all goodness attend them,
Till they return 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.
ECCO Gale Document Number: CB3327974792
ESTC Citation Number: T174343