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HEAVE AND GO, MY NANCY O! Lead: Peter

This Danish capstan chantey was first collected by Laura Alexandrine Smith for her book, Music of the Waters (1888). Stan Hugill published it with the lyrics organized differently in Shanties from the Seven Seas. A melody was never collected, so Peter composed one, using Hugill's version of the lyrics.

LYRICS:

Solo: Come all ye jolly sailors bold
Chorus: Heave and go, my Nancy-O
Solo: Listen till my tale is told
Chorus: Heave and go, my Nancy-O

The King trusts to his sailors bold
And we shall find them as of old

Where father, mother, sisters, wives
We're ready now to resign our lives

With Danish girls with eyes so blue
We will do all that good sailors do

With Dannebrog upon our masts
Shall float as long as this world lasts

And now for our brave captain we
We'll give three cheers right heartily

Then up, men up, and blaze away
Listen till my tale is told