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

And when I'm far upon the sea you'll know not where I am
Kind letters I will write to you from every foreign land
The secrets of your heart dear girl are the best of my good will 
So let your 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
There's nothing to protect us love or keep us from the cold
On the ocean wide where we must bide like jolly seamen bold

There's tinkers, tailors, shoemakers lie snoring fast asleep
While we poor souls on the ocean wide are ploughing through the deep
Our officers commanded us and then we must obey
Expecting every moment for to get cast away

But when the wars are 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 merrily and spend our money free
And when our money is all gone we'll boldly go to sea