Lover’s separation is a theme widespread in the english balladry and that of a sailor and a young maid it’s probably originated in the eighteenth century, as we find it in the illustrations of the time: some ballads dwell on the figure of Nancy in tears who die of heartbreak because she believes that the sailor has abandoned her.
THE SAILOR’S FAREWELL
A further version of the sailor’s farewell ballad comes from”Oxford Book of Sea Song” 1986 “that version was originally noted by Dr George Gardiner (text) and (probably) Charles Gamblin (tune) from George Lovett (born 1841) at Winchester, Hampshire. In January 1909, Ralph Vaughan Williams re-noted the melody because there was some doubt about the notation; it appears that he visited Mr Lovett and recorded his singing for later checking”.
TEARS ON THE SHORE
Polly / Nancy is on the beach to complain for having been abandoned by her sailor (who evidently left for the sea without marrying her).
There are many variations of the text, in this one we go back to the eighteenth century music
Baltimore Consort
FARE YE WELL, LOVELY NANCY I Fare ye well, lovely Nancy, for now I must leave you. I am bound for th’ East Indies my course for to steer. I know very well my long absence will grieve you, But, true love, I’ll be back in the spring of the year(1).” II “Oh, ‘tis not talk of leaving me, my dearest Johnny, Oh, ‘tis not talk of leaving me here all alone; For it is your good company that I do desire I will sigh till l die if l ne’er see you more. III In sailor’s apparel I’ll dress and go with you, ln the midst of all danger your friend I will be; And that is, my dear, when the stormy wind’s blowing, True love, I`ll be ready to reef your topsails.” |
IV “Your neat little fingers strong cables can’t handle, Your neat little feet to the topmast can’t go; Your delicate body strong winds can’t endure. Stay at home, lovely Nancy, to the seas do not go.” V Now Johnny is sailing and Nancy bewailing; The tears down her eyes like torrents do flow. Her gay golden hair she’s continually tearing, Saying, “I’ll sigh till I die if l ne’er see you more”. VI Now all you young maidens by me take a warning, Never trust a sailor or believe what they say. First they will court you, and then they will slight you; They will leave you behind, love, in grief and in pain. |
NOTES
1) as sea ballad Lovely on the Water the sailor’s farewell is framed in an opening stanza that describes the coming of spring
SAILOR’S LETTER
Johnny is about to send a letter to his sweetheart to swear his true love and renew the promise of marriage (but everyone knows what happened to sailor vow)
Solas from Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers, 1997
ADIEU, LOVELY NANCY I “Adieu, lovely Nancy, for now I must leave you To the far-off West Indies I’m bound for to steer But let my long journey be of no trouble to you For my love, I’ll return in the course of a year” II “Talk not of leaving me here, lovely Jimmy Talk not of leaving me here on the shore You know very well your long absence will grieve me As you sail the wild ocean where the wild billows roar III I’ll cut off my ringlets all curly and yellow I’ll dress in the coats of a young cabin boy And when we are out on that dark, rolling ocean I will always be near you, my pride and my joy” IV “Your lily-white hands, they could not handle the cables Your lily-white feet to the top mast could not go And the cold winter storms, well, you could not endure them Stay at home, lovely Nancy, where the wild winds won’t blow” |
V As Jimmy set a-sailing, lovely Nancy stood a-wailing The tears from her eyes in great torrents did a-flow As she stood on the beach, oh her hands she was wringing Crying, “Oh and alas, will I e’er see you more?” VI As Jimmy was a-walking on the quays of Philadelphia The thoughts of his true love, they filled him with pride He said, “Nancy, lovely Nancy, if I had you here, love How happy I’d be for to make you my bride” VII So Jimmy wrote a letter to his own lovely Nancy Saying, “If you have proved constant, well, I will prove true” Oh but Nancy was dying, for her poor heart was broken Oh the day that he left her, forever he’d rue VIII Come all of you young maidens, I pray, take a warning And don’t trust a sailor boy or any of his kind For first they will court you and then they’ll deceive you For their love, it is tempestuous as the wavering wind |
HEART BREAKING
A melodramatic ending with sailor’s letter coming too late to the bedside of a dying Nancy.
Jarlath Henderson from Hearts Broken, Heads Turned, 2016
Samplers, piano and an expressive voice for this young musician who won the BBC Young Folk Award in 2003.
FARE YE WELL, LOVELY NANCY I Fare thee well, lovely Nancy, It’s now I must leave you, To cross the main ocean where the stormy winds blow, let not my long journey be of no trouble to you, for you know I’ll be back in the course of a year” II “Let’s talk not of leaving me here, lovely Billy Let’s talk not of leaving me here all alone for you know your long journey at early will grieve me stay at home lovely Billy to the sea do not roar” V-VI As Billy went to sailing, lovely Nancy stood a-wailing The tears down her eyes like fountains did flow As Billy was a-walking on the quays of Philadelphia The thoughts of his true love, still run throu his eyes |
VII So Billy wrote a letter to his own true love Nancy Saying, “If you prove constant, then I will prove true” Lovely Nancy on death bed could not recover when the news was brough to her but his true love was death VIII So come on ye pretty fair maids, and a warning take by me care for a sailor or of his kind men For first they will court you and then they’ll deceive you For their minds are imperfectual like the westerly wind |
Ralph Vaughan Williams: LOVELY ON THE WATER
Cecil Sharp: LOVELY NANCY
english version: FARE YE WELL/ADIEU, LOVELY NANCY
english version: ADIEU SWEET LOVELY NANCY
american/irish version: ADIEU MY LOVELY NANCY
sea shanty: HOLY GROUND
LINK
http://mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/farewellnancy.html http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=27483
http://www.8notes.com/scores/4582.asp?ftype=gif