It was on a Monday morning
the 29th of May
Our ship she slipped her cable
and we were ready for sea
The wind blew from the south -south -west
To Egypt we were bound
And the Portsmouth hills were garnished
With pretty girls around
There I beheld a handsome maid
All in her bloomer years
Her making lamentation
and her eyes were full of tears
Oh, I'll cut off me yellow hair
and sail along with you
And I'll dress meself in sailor's clothes
and I'll see Egypt too
O no, my dearest Nancy,
sure that it'll never do, Lord Nelson,
I've commanded no wo
man there may go.
We must stand to our colour's love
and hope that fortune smiles
As we fight with bold meddlesome
on the banks of the Nile
Your waist it is too slender
and your fingers are too fine
Your delicate constitution
couldn't stand the hot campaign
And the sultry southerns of Egypt,
your complexion they would spoil
If you fought with bold Lord Nelson
on the banks of the Nile
The cannons they do rattle so,
and the cannonballs do fly,
And the silver whistles they sound out
to drown our dismal cries.
But let a hundred days
be brightened, love,
and then you'll give a smile,
and re member Nelson's victory
on the banks of the Nile.