Pretty Nancy - Jean Ritchie

Oh my sweet lovin' Nancy

Would you think it unkind

For me to sit down by you

And tell you my mind

My mind is to marry

And never to part

The first time I saw you

You wounded my heart

Purty Nancy, Purty Nancy

My sad tears will flow

For my sweet lovin' Nancy

Wherever I go

In North Carolinee

I was bred and was born

And in that same country

I bore all the storm

In and

And when I was young

Amongst all the true lovers

It is there I saw mine

I giv’ed her features

That please me most well

And I was bound to her

My mind for to tell

She quick like consented

My bride for to be

But her parents weren’t willin'

For her to wed me

Purty Nancy, Purty Nancy

My sad tears will flow

For my sweet lovin' Nancy

Wherever I go

She hung down her dear head

With tears in her eyes

Lamenting her condition

Lamenting she cried

O!

I am a poor girl

And bound to my home

And I’ve duly been courted

By the wagoner alone

Your horses are hungry

Go feed them some hay

Come sit yourself by me

What time you can stay

My horses ain’t hungry

They don’t need your hay

So farewell my Nancy

There’s no time to stay

Purty Nancy, Purty Nancy

My sad tears will flow

For my sweet lovin' Nancy

Wherever I go

So let us part weeping

On the new river’s shore

Fare you well my own true love

I’ll see you no more

I’ll think of my fiddle

And rosin or bow

And make myself welcome

Wherever I go

Purty Nancy, Purty Nancy

My sad tears will flow

For my sweet lovin' Nancy

Wherever I go