Digital Tradition Mirror

Jimmy and Nancy

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Jimmy and Nancy

Lovers, I crave, lend an ear to my story,
Take an example by this constant pair,
It is of a young couple who love out of measure,
Beautiful Nancy from Yarmouth we hear.

She was a merchant's comely fair daughter,
Heiress of fifteen thousand a year,
A young man he courted her to be his jewel,
The son of a gentleman who lived near.

Many long years this couple did court,
When they were children in love did agree,
When to an age this couple arrived
Cupid his arrow between them displayed.

When they were promised for to be married,
But when her father the same came to hear,
He took his charming, beautiful daughter,
Acted a part that was cruel and severe.

"Daughter," he said, "give o'er thy proceedings
That if you consent to be wed ,
For evermore we resolve to disown you
If you with one that so meanly wed.

"Besides, dear child, you are of great fortune,
Likewise you are beautiful, handsome and young
You are a match, dear child, that is fitted
For any lord in great Christendom."

Then did reply this pretty damsel,
"Riches and honour I both do deny
If I'm deprived of my dearest lover,
And good-bye to this world which is all vanity."

Then did reply her cruel parent
"To sea Jimmie shall go in a ship of my own
And I swear he shall have my daughter
When to fair Yarmouth again he returns.

(Words missing. Jimmie goes away, and somehow gets dead. )

His cruel ghost to his love did appear,
Her fond amours. . - -

Her nightgown embroidered in gold and silver
Carelessly around her body she throws,
With her own maidens indeed to attend her
To meet her true love she instantly goes.

The maidens they heard her sad lamentations,
But the apparition indeed could not see,
Thinking the maiden had fell in distraction
They strove to persuade her contented to be.

Still she cried, " I am coming,
Now on your bosom I'll still fall asleep
Just she had spoke, this unfortunate lady
Suddenly plunged herself into the deep.

When to her father the maids told the story,
Crying,"Cruel monster, oh, what have you done?
. . . . . . .
" I have killed the flower of fair Yarmouth town".

The boatswain he confessed the murder,
To the yardarm he was hung for the same,
And the parents broke the heart of their daughter
Before the ship to the fair harbour came.

From Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, Creighton
Collected from Mr. Henneberry

DT #437
Laws M38
RG
oct96

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!