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====== Faithless Nancy Dawson ======

By Anna Bidder in 1964, but may have been devised around 1936.\\
Tune: A rovin\\
Longways; Duple Minor; Proper
<code>
A    1s Lead Down, Cast Up to Place (8)
     2s Lead Up, Cast Down to Place (8)
     Partner back to back (8)
B    Set or Balance Backwards; Turn Single Forwards (8)
     Three Changes without hands, start Right with Partner (8)</code>
     
Note: First Couples Improper and replace the Three Changes with a Half Poussette (Ladies Pull), then #1s can just release one hand and face down ready to start again.    

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxYSQJtF10A&t=9s

Faithless Nancy Dawson

This piece is based on the traditional sea chantey, 
"Faithless Nancy Dawson," also known as "A-Rovin," 
from the lyrics of the chorus:

"A-rovin', a-rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
We'll go no more a-rovin',
With you fair maid."

The song is apparently associated with the well-known 
London dancer and actress Ann Newton (1728-67), whose 
stage name was Nancy Dawson. She became famous for 
dancing a solo performance of a hornpipe between 
acts in a 1759 revival of John Gay's The Beggar's 
Opera at London's Covent Garden Theatre. 


Amsterdam Maid (Faithless Nancy Dawson)\\
Dance: "Faithless Nancy Dawson"\\
Song: "Amsterdam Maid", as sung by Stan Hugill, \\
on Shanties of the Seven Seas\\
<code>
In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
          Mark well what I do say,
In Amsterdam there lived a maid
And she was mistress of her trade.
          We’ll go no more a’roving with you fair maids.
          A’rovin, a’rovin, since rovin’s been my ruin
          We’ll go no more a’roving with you fair maids

One night I crept from my abode
          Refrain
One night I crept from my abode
To meet this fair maid down the road.
          Chorus

I met this fair maid after dark
An' took her to her favorite park

I put me arm around her waist
Sez she, "Young man yer in great haste!"

I put me hand upon her knee,
Sez she, "Young man, yer rather free!"

I put my hand upon her thigh,
Sez she, "Young man, yer awful high!"

We laid down on a grassy patch,
An' I felt like such a ruddy ass.

I towed her to the Maiden's Breast,
From south the wind veered wes'sou'west

We had a drink -- of grub a snatch
We sent two bottles down the hatch

Her dainty arms were white as milk,
Her lovely hair was soft as silk.

Her heart was poundin' like a drum
Her lips wuz red as any plum.

She pushed me over on my back,
She laughed so hard her lips did crack.

She swore that she'd be true to me,
But spent me pay-day fast and free.

In three weeks time I wuz badly bent
Then off to sea I sadly went.

In a bloodboat Yank bound round Cape Horn,
Me boots an' clothes wuz all in pawn.

Bound round Cape Stiff through ice and snow
An' up the coast of Callyo.

An' then back to the Liverpool Docks,
Saltpetre stowed in our boots an' socks.

Now when I got back home from sea,
A soldier had her on his knee.</code>
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