Nancy Whiskey

Performed by Marc Gunn
From: St. Patrick's Day

words by traditional

I'm a weaver a Calton Weaver,
I'm a rash and a rovin' blade
I've got silver in my pocket
and I'll follow the roving trade.

* Whisky, Whisky, Nancy Whisky.
Whisky, Whisky Nancy-o!

As I went in to Glasgow City,
Nancy Whisky I chanced to smell,
I went in, sat doon beside her,
Seven long years I loved her well.

The more I kissed her the more I loved her,
The more I kissed her the more she smiled,
Soon I forgot my mother's teaching,
Nancy soon had me beguiled

So I'll go back to the Calton weavin'
I'll surely make the shuttles fly,
I'll make more at the Calton weavin'
Than ever I did with the rovin' trade

So come all you weavers you Calton weavers
All you weaver's where 'ere you be
Beware of whiskey, Nancy Whiskey,
She'll ruin you like she ruined me

Chords: KEY D

[D]I'm a weaver a [G]Calton [A]Weaver,
[D]I'm a [Bm]rash and a [G]rovin' [A]blade
[G]I've got silver [Bm]in my [A]pocket
[D]and I'll follow the [G]roving [A]trade.

[D]Whisky, Whisky, [G]Nancy [A]Whisky.
[D]Whisky, Whisky [G]Nan-[A]cy-[D]o!

Background

"Nancy Whiskey" is another name for the song "The Calton Weaver". The song tells of a Calton weaver who spent his life savings on Whisky.

The Calton weavers were a community of handweavers established in the community of Calton just outside Glasgow, Scotland in the 18th century. In 1787 the weavers went on strike. Troops opened fire on the demonstrators and six weavers were killed. In the early 19th century, many of the weavers emigrated to Canada, settling in Carleton Place and other communities in eastern Ontario, where they continued their trade.

 

Nancy Whiskey Video

from the CD

from my basement