William and Nancy

I courted lovely Nancy till her favours I won,
Straight after some other away I did run.
It was the height of my practice and the greatest of woe.
I lost lovely Nancy by courting too slow.

Come all you unmarried men and set you down by me,
A bachelor's warning I'll give unto thee.
When you court a pretty fair girl l, don't court her too slow,
. . . . . . . . . . . . .till she tells you No.

I courted lovely Nancy till her favours I won
Straight after some other away I did run,
It was the height of my practice and the greatest of woe.
I lost lovely Nancy by courting too slow.

I took a sad flight and sailed over the main
Where the small birds were singing and making and mourn,
The thoughts of lovely Nancy rolled over my mind
I thought of lovely Nancy as I walked along.

I wrote her a letter hat she might well know,
I hadn't forgot her although I don't go
She was lawfully married when this letter did go
She wrote me back a letter that I was too slow.

When William heard this it struck him for death
Saying:"Shall I die love-sick and never get well?"
Lovely nancy she heard this, it struck her with grief,
I'll go to sweet William and give him relief.

Lovely Nancy she was standing all by his bed-side,
Saying:"I am the woman should have been your sweet bride.
I am lawfully married, I'll die for your sake,
She threw her arms around him and she felt his heart break.

Sweet William is dead now, I hope he's at rest
Lovely Nancy she fainted and died on her breast,
Don't slight my poor husband, don't slight him, I pray
Nor cast this up to him when i am away.

From English Folk Songsfrom the Southern Appalachians, Sharp
Collected from Mrs. Eliza Pace, KY 1917
DT #493
Laws P5
RG
oct96