Nancy Whiskey Lyrics
The DublinersMusic Video
Nancy Whiskey
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy Whiskey
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy-O
I am a weaver, a Calton weaver,
I am a rash and a roving blade
I've got silver in my pouches
And I'll gang follow the roving trade
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy Whiskey
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy-O
As I come in by Glasgow city,
Nancy Whiskey I chanced tae smell
So I gane in, sat doon beside her,
Seeven lang years I loved her well
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy Whiskey
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy-O
The mair I kissed her, the mair I looed her,
The mair I looed her, the mair she smiled
And I forgot my mother's teaching,
Nancy soon had me beguiled
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy Whiskey
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy-O
I woke up early in the mornin',
Tae slake ma drouth it was ma need
I tried to rise, but was nae able,
For Nancy had me by the heid
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy Whiskey
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy-O
"Come on, landlady, what's the reck'nin',
Tell me what I have to pay"
"Fifteen shillin's is the reck'nin',
Pay me quickly and go away"
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy Whiskey
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy-O
As I went oot by Glasgow city,
Nancy Whiskey I chanced tae smell
I git in, drank four and six pence
And all was left was a crooked scale
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy Whiskey
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy-O
I'll gang back to the Calton weavin',
I surely make the shuttles fly
For I'll mak more at the Calton weavin',
Then ever I did in the rovin' trade
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy Whiskey
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy-O
Come all ye weavers, Calton weavers,
And all ye weavers, where e'er you be
Beware of Whiskey, Nancy Whiskey,
She'll ruin you as she ruined me
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy Whiskey
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy-O
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy Whiskey
Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy-O
Song Details
🎶 Music & Lyrics: Traditional Scottish song
📝 Song Brief:
Nancy Whisky is a lively traditional drinking song that personifies whisky as a charming but troublesome companion. It is story of a young rover and weaver by trade who ventured by Glasgow City where he got the taste for whiskey which he called 'Nancy'.
Seven years of drinking and roving about saw him lose his money and lodgings. He decided to go back to his weaving trade where he could make a lot more money than he ever did in the roving trade - spending far too much time and money on the unforgettable character of “Nancy Whisky”.
📖 Glossary:Scots Dialect Words in This Version
This version of Nancy Whisky uses traditional Scots spellings commonly found in Lowland and Glasgow‑area folk songs. These include:- tae — to
- gane — gone / go
- doon — down
- seeven — seven
- lang — long
- mair — more
- looed — loved
- slake — satisfy (usually thirst)
- ma — my
- drouth — thirst
- nae — not / no
- heid — head
- git — get
- mak — make
- oot — out
These spellings reflect the character of the Scottish folk tradition and help preserve the song’s regional voice.
- Calton
A historic district in Glasgow, Scotland, located just east of the city centre and north of the River Clyde. Known for its strong working‑class heritage and deep musical and cultural traditions, it appears frequently in Scottish folk songs.
🍀 Genre: Celtic Folk Song
👥 Covers: Gaelic Storm, Shane Macgowan & the Popes, The Irish Rovers, Donal Clancy, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Orthodox Celts, Barleyjuice, Anne Feeney, The Barley Boys, The Clancey's, The Kerry Boys...
🎤 Featured Artists: The Dubliners
💿 Album: Original Dubliners: 1966-1969
Released: March 22, 1993
Country: UK & Europe
Format: 2 x CD, Compilation, Remastered
Label: EMI
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