[Verse 1]
D G D A7 D
Adieu, sweet lovely Nancy, ten thousand times adieu.
D G D A7 D
I am going across the ocean, love, to seek for something new.
D G
Come change your ring with me, dear girl,
D G D A7
Come change your ring with me.
D G D A7 D
That it might be a token of true love when I am on the sea.
[Verse 2]
D G D A7 D
And when I'm far upon the sea you'll know not where I am.
D G D A7 D
Kind letters I will write to you from every foreign land.
D G
The secrets of my heart, dear girl,
D G D A7
And the best of my good will.
D G D A7 D
So let your body be where it might, my heart will be with you still.
[Verse 3]
D G D A7 D
There's a heavy storm arising: see how it gathers round.
D G D A7 D
While we poor souls on the ocean wide are fighting for the Crown.
D G
There's nothing to protect us, love,
D G D A7
Or keep us from the cold,
D G D A7 D
On the ocean wide where we must bide like jolly sailors bold.
[Verse 4]
D G D A7 D
There's tinkers, tailors, shoemakers lie snoring fast asleep,
D G D A7 D
While we poor souls on the ocean wide are ploughing through the deep.
D G
Our officers commanded us
D G D A7
And then we must obey,
D G D A7 D
Expecting every moment we may be cast away.
[Verse 5]
D G D A7 D
And when the wars are over there'll be peace on every shore.
D G D A7 D
We'll return to our wives and our families and the girls that we adore.
D G
We'll drink our liquor merrily
D G D A7
And spend our money free,
D G D A7 D
And when our money it is all gone we'll boldly go to sea.
