Lyrics The Banks of the Nile - Martin Carthy

"Hark I hear the drum a-beating, no longer can I stay.
I hear the bugle sounding, my love, I must away.
We are called out for orders and it′s many's a long mile
To go fight with all those heathens on the banks of the Nile."
"Oh Willy, dearest Willy, don′t leave me here to mourn,
You'll make me curse and rue the day that ever I was born.
For the parting of my own true love is the parting of my life,
Stay at home, dear Willy, and I will be your wife.
I will cut off those yellow locks and I'll go along with you,
I′ll dress myself in velveteen and go and see Egypt too.
I′ll fight and bear your banner while kind fortune upon me smile
And we'll comfort one another on the banks of the Nile."
"Oh Nancy, dearest Nancy, with me you cannot go.
For our colonel has give orders that no women there can go.
You will forget your own true love when you are on the shore
And you′ll think of things that please your mind and new loves will please you more."
Cursed be those cruel bloody wars that took my love from me,
And cursed be the order that put his boat to sea.
I fear the burning sun will shine his beauty to destroy
And his blood will seep in the grass that's deep on the banks of the Nile.