The Streams of Lovely Nancy Collected by Bob Copper in about 1954, from Victor 'Turp' Brown, of Cheriton, Hants: see Chapter Eighteen, pp. 151-168, of Songs and Southern Breezes for the details; and the appendix for these words.
The streams of lovely Nancy divide in three parts,
Where young men and maidens go to meet their sweethearts.
Drinking of strong liquors causes my heart to sing,
It's the knives of yonder valley made the rocks for to ring.On yonder high mountain there's a high castle stands,
Builded up with ivory all near the black sands,
Builded up with ivory and diamonds so bright,
It's a pilot for the sailor on a dark winter's night.I will go, love, to some nunnery and there end my life,
I never will get married nor yet make a wife.
Constant and true-hearted for ever I'll remain
I never will get married till the sailor comes again.As the sailor and his true-love was a-walking along,
Said the sailor to his true-love, I'll sing you a song,
You're a false-hearted woman, you makes me say no.
Fare you well, my dearest Nancy, and now I will go.We sailed from London to fair Liverpool town,
Where girls they were plenty, some white and some brown,
But of all the bonny lasses that ever I did see,
At the sign of the Angel is the only one for me.
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