Come all you pretty maidens that have a mind to go
All along with your lover to face the daring foe
I've a mind to venture where the cannon-balls do fly
All along with my love I'll go

He says "Lovely Nancy, I hope you'll not repine"
"For I must go on board our noble fleet to join"
"Our orders are to sea, my dear, and now we must obey"
"And behind me you must stay".

She says, "My lovely William, oh don't you leave me here"
"I'll dress me as a seaman and along with you I'll steer"
"Oh let me go along with you, your messmate for to be"
"And I'll fight so manfully".

He says "My lovely Nancy, great danger is at sea"
"Perhaps you may be slain, so behind me you must remain".
"And your pretty little fingers, they are so long and small"
"You'll think it but hard usage our cable ropes to haul".

"When the winds they do blow high and the billows loudly roar"
"At home you must be on shore".

So now my love has gone abroad as I do tell you plain
I think kind heaven will protect him while he is ploughing on the mane;
Protect him from all danger when the cannon balls do fly,
And send me William home again.

----
Traditional
Sung by Nic Jones on "Noah's Ark Trap"