[Chorus]
G C G
Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine,
C G D
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine.
G C G
Now she’s gone and left me and wandered far away,
C G D G
Left me crying here beside the water.
[Verse 1]
G C G
Well Nancy Doyle it was her name, she was a fine young lady,
C G D
Until she sailed away from me and she almost drove me crazy.
G C G
Well Nancy came from Dublin town, right beside the Poddle,
C G D G
‘Til o’er the sea away from me she chanced all for to toddle.
[Chorus]
G C G
Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine,
C G D
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine.
G C G
Now she’s gone and left me and wandered far away,
C G D G
Left me crying here beside the water.
[Verse 2]
G C G
Her eyes were wild and shone bright blue, her laugh was full and hearty,
C G D
Her humour droll, the life and soul and centre of every party.
G C G
She could drink a pint of whiskey all straight from the can,
C G D G
When the night was done and dusted it was then she’d hold my hand.
[Chorus]
G C G
Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine,
C G D
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine.
G C G
Now she’s gone and left me and wandered far away,
C G D G
Left me crying here beside the water.
[Verse 3]
G C G
She might not have been Aurora, a Flora or Diana,
C G D
But she sang songs in the back tap room along to the ould piana.
G C G
She was not Euternatia, nor was she Venus bright,
C G D G
But she could drink much more than you and beat you in a fight.
[Chorus]
G C G
Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine,
C G D
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine.
G C G
Now she’s gone and left me and wandered far away,
C G D G
Left me crying here beside the water.
[Verse 4]
G C G
Well there she was at work one day pretending to be sober,
C G D
When up there steps a dandy gent all for to look her over.
G C G
He says ‘I have an offer - I think you’ll find it grand!
C G D G
We’ll sail away upon the sea smuggling contraband.’
[Chorus]
G C G
Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine,
C G D
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine.
G C G
Now she’s gone and left me and wandered far away,
C G D G
Left me crying here beside the water.
[Verse 5]
G C G
What could I say, what could I do? It was more than I could offer,
C G D
I had to let her spread her wings, I couldn’t try to stop her,
G C G
Now she collects fine diamonds vases and antique rugs,
C G D G
With all the bags of money that she makes from dealing drugs.
[Chorus]
G C G
Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine,
C G D
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine.
G C G
Now she’s gone and left me and wandered far away,
C G D G
Left me crying here beside the water.
[Verse 6]
G C G
Oh Nancy, dearest Nancy, one thousand times adieu,
C G D
I’ll ne’er forget ‘til my dying breath the times I spent with you.
G C G
Though now I’m old and feeble and shaking on each knee,
C G D G
If ever you come this way again we’ll go upon a spree.
[Chorus]
G C G
Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine,
C G D
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine.
G C G
Now she’s gone and left me and wandered far away,
C G D G
Left me crying here beside the water.
