Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine
Now she's gone and left me and wandered far away
Left me crying here beside the water

Well Nancy Doyle it was her name, she was a fine young lady
Until she sailed away from me and she almost drove me crazy
Well Nancy came from Dublin town, right beside the Poddle
‘Til o'er the sea away from me
she chanced all for to toddle

Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine
Now she's gone and left me and wandered far away
Left me crying here beside the water

Her eyes were wild and shone bright blue
her laugh was full and hearty
Her humour droll, the life and soul
and centre of every party
She could drink a pint of whiskey all straight from the can
When the night was done and dusted
it was then she'd hold my hand

Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine
Now she's gone and left me and wandered far away
Left me crying here beside the water

She might not have been Aurora, a Flora or Diana
But she sang songs in the back tap room
along to the ould piana
She was not Euternatia, nor was she Venus bright
But she could drink much more than you
and beat you in a fight
Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine
Now she's gone and left me and wandered far away
Left me crying here beside the water

Well there she was at work one day pretending to be sober
When up there steps a dandy gent all for to look her over
He says ‘I have an offer - I think you'll find it grand!
We'll sail away upon the sea smuggling contraband. '

Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine
Now she's gone and left me and wandered far away
Left me crying here beside the water

What could I say, what could I do?
It was more than I could offer
I had to let her spread her wings
I couldn't try to stop her
Now she collects fine diamonds vases and antique rugs
With the all the bags of money
that she makes from dealing drugs

Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine
Now she's gone and left me and wandered far away
Left me crying here beside the water

Oh Nancy, dearest Nancy, one thousand times adieu
I'll ne'er forget ‘til my dying
breath the times I spent with you
Though now I'm old and feeble and shaking on each knee
If ever you come this way again we'll go upon a spree
Bad luck to the rolling water, bad luck to the salty brine
I only had the one true love, she swore she would be mine
Now she's gone and left me and wandered far away
Left me crying here beside the water