Adieu, sweet lovely Nancy,
 Ten thousand times adieu
 I'm a-going across 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 across 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
 And let my 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
 And 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 drink our liquor merrily
 And spend our money free
 And when our money is all gone - we will boldly go to sea