Historic Sheet Music Collection

Title

Nancy Lee

Document Type

Score

Publication Date

1840

Comments

Nancy Lee
Words by Fred E. Weatherly
Music by Stephan Adams

Some of these resources may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes. Such materials should be seen in the context of the time period and as a reflection of the attitudes of the time. The items are part of the historical record, and do not represent the views of the libraries or the institution.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Of all the wives as e'er you know,
Yeo ho! lads! ho!
Yeo ho! yeo ho!
There's none like Nancy Lee I trow,
Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!
See there she stands an' waves her hand upon the quay,
An' ev'ry day when I'm away
She'll watch for me,
An whisper low when tempests blow, for Jack at sea;
Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!
The sailor's wife, the sailors' star shall be,
Yeo ho! we go across the sea,
The sailor's wife, the sailor's star shall be,
The sailor's wife his star shall be.

[Verse 2]
The harbor's past, the breezes blow,
Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!
Yeo ho! yeo ho! '
Tis long ere we come back I know;
Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!
But true an bright from morn till night my home will be,
An' all so neat an sung an' sweet, for Jack at sea,
An' Nancy's face to bless the place, an' welcome me;
Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!
The sailor's wife, the sailors' star shall be,
Yeo ho! we go across the sea,
The sailor's wife, the sailor's star shall be,
The sailor's wife his star shall be.

[Verse 3]
The Boa's'n pipes the watch below;
Yeo ho! lads! ho!
Yeo ho! yeo ho!
Then here's a health afore we go,
Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!
A long, long, life to my sweet wife, and mates at sea,
An' keep our bones from Davy Jones where'er we be,
An' may you meet a mate as sweet as Nancy Lee;
Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!
The sailor's wife, the sailors' star shall be,
Yeo ho! we go across the sea,
The sailor's wife, the sailor's star shall be,
The sailor's wife his star shall be.

COinS
 

The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.