1. Solas is an American musical group officially formed in 1996, playing Irish traditional music as well as original compositions that dabble in the country, rock, and americana genres. The band's original lineup consisted of Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, tin whistle/low whistle, guitar, bodhrán), Winifred Horan (fiddle), John Doyle (guitar), John Williams (accordian), and Karan Casey (lead vocals). Over the years, only Egan and Horan have stayed with the band. The current members are now Egan, Horan, Deidre Scanlan (lead vocals), Eamon McElholm (guitar), and Mick McAuley (button accordion/piano accordion, concertina, low whistle, backing vocals).
2. Solas is a French rock band. The band released an album with the title 'Viens Sur Moi' in 2006.
Adieu Lovely Nancy
Solas Lyrics
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To the far-off West Indies I'm bound for to steer.
But let my long journey be of no trouble to you,
For, my love, I'll return in the course of a year.
Talk not of leaving me here lovely Jimmy,
Talk not of leaving me here on the shore.
You know very well your long absence will grieve me,
I'll cut off my ringlets all curly and yellow,
I'll dress in the coats of a young cabin boy,
And while we are out on that dark, rolling ocean,
I will always be near you, my pride and my joy.
Your lily-white hands, they could not handle the cables.
Your lily-white feet to the top mast could not go.
And the cold winter storms, well you could not endure them.
Stay at home, lovely Nancy, where the wild winds won't blow.
As Jimmy set a-sailing, lovely Nancy stood a wailing,
The tears from her eyes in great torrents did flow.
As she stood on the beach oh her hands she was wringing,
Crying, "Oh and alas, will I e'er see you more?"
As Jimmy was a-walking on the quays of Philadelphia
The thoughts of his true love, they filled him with pride
He said, "Nancy, lovely Nancy, if I had you here, love
How happy I'd be for to make you my bride"
So Jimmy wrote a letter to his own lovely Nancy
Saying, "If you have proved constant, well, I will prove true"
Oh but Nancy was dying, for her poor heart was broken
Oh the day that he left her, forever he'd rue
Come all of you maidens, I pray, take a warning
And don't trust a sailor boy or any of his kind
For first they will court you and then they'll deceive you
For their love, it is tempestuous as the wavering wind
In Solas's song Adieu Lovely Nancy, the singer, Jimmy, informs his lover, Nancy, that he must leave for a year to sail to the West Indies. He assures her that he will return to her love, but Nancy is full of apprehension and worries about his safety. She begs him not to leave her but Jimmy reminds her that her delicate nature could not handle the harsh realities of life at sea. Nancy's heartbreak is palpable as she watches Jimmy sail away, waiving goodbye.
The song touches on the classic themes of love, loss and separation. The lyrics reveal the agony of the lovers' separation and the treacherous nature of sailors who promise love and allegiance but are never fully present. Jimmy vows to return to Nancy, but she cannot wait for him and dies of a broken heart. The song ends as a warning to young women not to trust sailors who come into their lives promising love.
Adieu Lovely Nancy is a traditional English and Scottish folk song that has been recorded by many artists and adapted into various musical styles. Interestingly, the song has been included in works of literature such as Robert Louis Stephenson's Kidnapped, and the poem Adieu, Adieu! My Native Shore by Byron.
Line by Line Meaning
Adieu lovely Nancy, for now I must leave you,
Goodbye, my sweet Nancy. I must depart now.
To the far-off West Indies I'm bound for to steer.
I am heading towards the West Indies.
But let my long journey be of no trouble to you,
My long trip should not be a worry for you.
For, my love, I'll return in the course of a year.
I promise to come back to you within a year, my love.
Talk not of leaving me here lovely Jimmy,
Don't think about leaving me here, Jimmy.
Talk not of leaving me here on the shore.
Don't leave me behind on the shore.
You know very well your long absence will grieve me,
You know that your long absence will make me sad.
As you sail the wild ocean where the wild billows roar.
As you sail in the rough sea with the loud waves.
I'll cut off my ringlets all curly and yellow,
I will cut my curly and yellow hair off.
I'll dress in the coats of a young cabin boy,
I will wear the clothes of a young cabin boy.
And while we are out on that dark, rolling ocean,
While we are sailing in the dark, rough sea.
I will always be near you, my pride and my joy.
I will always be with you, my love and happiness.
Your lily-white hands, they could not handle the cables.
Your delicate hands couldn't handle the cables.
Your lily-white feet to the top mast could not go.
Your feet can't climb up to the top of the mast.
And the cold winter storms, well you could not endure them.
You can't withstand the cold winter storms.
Stay at home, lovely Nancy, where the wild winds won't blow.
Stay at home, Nancy, where the wild winds won't affect you.
As Jimmy set a-sailing, lovely Nancy stood a wailing,
As Jimmy was leaving, Nancy was crying.
The tears from her eyes in great torrents did flow.
She cried uncontrollably.
As she stood on the beach oh her hands she was wringing,
She was standing on the beach, wringing her hands.
Crying, "Oh and alas, will I e'er see you more?"
Wondering if she will ever see him again, she cried "Oh, will I ever see you again?"
As Jimmy was a-walking on the quays of Philadelphia
As Jimmy was walking on the docks of Philadelphia
The thoughts of his true love, they filled him with pride
He thought of his true love with pride.
He said, "Nancy, lovely Nancy, if I had you here, love
He said "Nancy, if only you were here, my love"
How happy I'd be for to make you my bride"
He would be happy to marry her.
So Jimmy wrote a letter to his own lovely Nancy
Jimmy wrote a letter to Nancy.
Saying, "If you have proved constant, well, I will prove true"
He wrote "If you remain true, I will also remain true."
Oh but Nancy was dying, for her poor heart was broken
Unfortunately, Nancy's heart was broken and she was dying.
Oh the day that he left her, forever he'd rue
Jimmy would regret leaving Nancy forever.
Come all of you maidens, I pray, take a warning
Ladies, please take warning from my story.
And don't trust a sailor boy or any of his kind
Don't trust a sailor or anyone like him.
For first they will court you and then they'll deceive you
They will first court you, but then they'll betray you.
For their love, it is tempestuous as the wavering wind
Their love is unstable and unpredictable, like the wind.
Contributed by Gabriella F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.