Banks of the Nile
Lyrics courtesy of www.sailorsongs.com

Farewell, my dearest Nancy, Farewell I must away.

I hear the drums a-beating and no longer I can stay.

For we're orders out of Portsmouth Town and for many a long mile

For to fight the blacks and heathens on the banks of the Nile. Oh,

I'll cut off my curly locks and along with you I'll go

I'll dress myself in velveteen and go and see Egypt, too.

I'll fight and bear thy banners well, kind fortune upon thee smile.

And we'll comfort one another on the banks of the Nile.

Oh, your waist it is too slender love and your waist it is too small.

I'm afraid that you won't answer me if l should on you call

Your delicate constitution will not stand the unwholesome soil.

Nor the dark, nor the sandy climate on the banks of the Nile.

O Willie, dearest William don't leave me here to mourn,

You'll make me curse and rue the day for whenever I'd been born.

For the parting of my own true love and the parting of me life

Now stay at home, dear William and I will be thee wife.

My curse upon the war and the hour that it began

For it has robbed our count -e-ry of many a gallant man

It took from us our old sweethearts protectors of our soil

And their blood does steep the grass that's deep on the banks of the Nile.

Let a hundred days be darkened and let maidens give a sigh

It would melt the very elements to hear the wounded cry

Let a hundred days be brightened and let the maidens give a smile

But remember Abercrombie on the banks of the Nile.

O now the war is over and back I'll then return

Unto my wife and family I'll leave behind to mourn.

We'll call them in around me boys and there's no end of toil.

And no more we'll go a roving on the banks of the Nile.

lyrics courtesy www.sailorsongs.com