Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?

Subject: Wild Rover
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 10:03 AM

Do folkies still sing this song as i like to hear it now and then.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 10:15 AM

Yes.

And so?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: MMario
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 10:16 AM

depends on the venue - there are places and groups that would not care to hear it - and other places and groups where it is almost demanded.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 10:25 AM

I have been to places where its not allowed.Thats why i asked with this thread.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 11:43 AM

Your right guest in the Anchor in the MBS at Sidmouth you get a heavy fine for singing The Wild Rover

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 11:57 AM

Places where the Wild Rover is not allowed......the mind boggles. I seem to remember Ron Kavana doing someting pretty useful with it last time I saw him.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 12:25 PM

Everytime I create a setlist that doesn't include this song, I get so many requests that I have to sing it. Like other singers in the manner of the Irish, I am sick to death of singing it. But folks love the damn thing. I have never been banned from singing it, but I would never sing it in a singaround, unless forced to.

Mick

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 12:32 PM

Happy belated Birthday Mick.
SCOOBY

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 12:46 PM

Thanks, Scooby.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Schantieman
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 12:49 PM

It was done to death in the 60s & 70s, together with Ralph McTell's Streets of London and most aficionados (aficionadoes aficionadi?) wouldn't do it in a club these days. Every so often a tyro does it and we all join in though.   Clive (who runs the Bothy) does it to at least two different tunes now and then.

Quite good fun trying to sing one to the tune of the other. I've heard Mr Happy sing Ken Dodd's Happiness to the tune of Hughie Jones's Ellen Vannin too - that's quite a laugh!

Steve

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: s6k
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 12:51 PM

I heard one of the best versions ever by Mudcats very own Muppet.

It was a reggae version.

that is amazing

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 12:59 PM

I didn't know this song until about five years ago, when I learned it from my late friend Jim, an Englishman who was married to the woman who is now my life. Jim and I would sing it together raucously about once every two months, somewhat to the chagrin of some of the members of our woman-dominated song circle. I still sing it in his memory every once in a while, and I still love singing it.

I can understand how some people think it's tired and worn, and a waste of time when once could be singing a thirty-seven verse ballad - but I think it's a fun song, and I wish I could feel free to sing it once in a while amongst the snooty purists. Don't think I'd want to sing it five times a month, but once every couple of months doesn't seem too often to sing (or hear) a song.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: PoppaGator
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 01:00 PM

Some songs become so popular that they get "done to death," and sooner or later the general public tires of them. Or, at least, the *performers* who are expected to play/sing these songs lose their taste for them and come to dread the inevitable requests.

"Wild Rover" is a good example, "Kumbaya" is another, and -- here in New Orleans, in the traditional-jazz category -- you have "When the Saints Come Marching In." There's a faded old sign posted on the wall at Preservation Hall:

Requests: $5
Traditional Requests: $1
"The Saints": $10

The sign dates back at least to the late 1960s, when 10 bucks was a *lot* more money than it is today.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 01:06 PM

Joe, I don't think the song is tired at all. I am just tired of singing it. I think it stems from my need to constantly introduce the crowd to other songs. There are only so many minutes in a performance, and when one is trying to introduce a certain song, or maintain a certain theme, it is a pain to have to sacrifice other songs to one that has been done to death. BUT .... and this is a very big BUT .... the crowd is in charge. I am there to entertain them, and if the request is from a number of folks, I feel obligated to give 'em what they want. I may have to sing it 15 times a month, but I am mindful that the audience members haven't heard it that many times. To them, the night isn't complete without it.

It is a fun song. One just tires of it, as anyone would of any song that got sung as much as this one.

Mick

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Cats
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 01:13 PM

And you can always sing it to different tunes.... ride of the valkeries, try the savoy operas, away in a manger, or even Sweet Chiming Christmas Bells... I could go on all night, there again we did one year at the Swan in Sidmouth. Seriously though, There is a beatuiful Irish ballad version that's worth looking out.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 03:45 PM

An Irish version of Wild Roiver? That'd make a change from the normal Norfolk version. How does it go, Cats?

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 03:52 PM

MG of H:
There's always "The Drogheda Wild ROver", - as collected from Mrs. Carolan, if I remember aright!

Regards

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 04:03 PM

If memory serves, Tommy Makem got the trad Irish version from his mother Sarah. Sean Cannon recorded a trad version on an early solo album in the 70's. Even if you listen to Luke Kelly's version in the 60's it still retained a trad sound, being sung as if in regret. It was only when the "clappy Handy" bits were added that it started to go downhill. I even remember Mike Whelans doing a blues version of it in Aberdeen in the early 70's...brought the house down...with laughter!

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 05:10 PM

Hey, Kevin, in the U.S., "Wild Rover" is an Irish song. Americans don't know from Norfolk. They think it's in Ireland, or maybe Virginia.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: radriano
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 05:43 PM

The Drogheda Wild Rover, mentioned by Martin Ryan above, is the same lyrics to a much more beautiful melody that suits the song better than the usual raucous melody.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 05:58 PM

I have just searched Mudcat, and googled it, but I don't find the words or tune for "Drogheda Wild Rover". I see it referenced in several places but nothing more. Can anyone share it with us?

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: curmudgeon
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 06:58 PM

I first heard, and subsequently learned, the Wild Rover in about 1962 from a recording by John Runge. It was a simple narrative song with no enthusiastic affronts. About twenty years ago, when I first met Lou Killen, he sang a very close variant and prefaced his presentation with a comment that he wished he'd never taught to "some friends."

A similar text is in "The Singing Island," MacColl-Seeger .

I rarely perform this song as the average audience will try to give it the clap -- Tom

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: breezy
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 07:14 PM

its a great song to perform anywhere, be fearless.
Its entertainment as well.
Put your own stamp on it.

I beena wild most all of me life

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: breezy
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 07:16 PM

I been a wild ROVER most all of me life
etc

yes I did shout, sorry no offence intended

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Kaleea
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 10:26 PM

Depends on what you mean by "folkie." I have attended many ceolis & sessions & "get togethers" where it is often sung &/or requested.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 01:34 AM

Hey, Birthday Boy Mick - see comments from Martin Ryan and Antaine in this thread. Martin says the lyrics posted are very similar to what the Press Gang recorded under the title "Drogheda Wild Rover."
I think we have an alternate tune posted somewhere, but I didn't find it.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: GUEST,Wolfgang
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 08:50 AM

I have a recollection of the Johnstons singing live and a capella a version with a different tune.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 09:07 AM

OK - DSo 'The Wild Rover' is considered old and hackneyed by a lot of Folk (define Folk how you will) but it IS one of the songs that will get an enthusiastic response in a 'General' entertainment environment And the same goes for 'Streets of London' by the way .

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: GUEST,Snuffy
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 09:23 AM

Words here and Alison posted the tune later in the same thread

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: muppett
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 11:48 AM

Hey S6k, I also do a Kyle Minouge version of it as well, the words fit well to the tune of I can't get you out my head (I think that's what its called), you know the one that's got the chorus, No,no,no,

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: EagleWing
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 05:14 PM

I sang it the other day at my local folk club. It was the first time I'd sung it for about 30 years so it came as reasonably fresh to me.

Frank L.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: GUEST,Lighter at work
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 05:29 PM

Just so our record of this song's history is complete: a good friend of mine attended Cork U. for a year in 1979-80, and when he came back
reported that the chorus even then had been fitted out with rhythmic claps, often accompanied or replaced by the phrase "Right up your a***!"

The voice of the folk.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Snuffy
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 07:36 PM

Or Kilt in places where you didn't dare say Arse

Subject: RE: Wild Rover
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 07:57 PM

G'day GUEST ... and everybody else,

A song I like as an alternative is one learned from Sally Sloane, who was a great traditional singer, here in Australia. I've posted it here at: I've Been a Wild Boy.

Sally's traditional tune (as I note in the original post) was one that seems to have been popular in British folk clubs as a gentle reminder for all to go home, at the end of the night, as Here's a Health to the Company. (In fact ... you could sing the Wild Rover verses to that tune ... and have no chorus ... of course, that might get you lynched in some chorus-obsessed clubs!

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 03:14 PM

Here's an alternative to it the other day I made up in a thread about Minor characters deserving own song" when Don(Wyziwyg)T suggested the landlady might deserve to have her version of what transpired.

So I thought I'd post it here, as more likely to come up, if anyone is ever looking for a song like this. In which case they are more than welcome to sing it. (Say where you got it from though, if anyone is interested.)

The Wild Rover's Landlady
I was stood at the bar when this pillock came in,
And he asked for a drink without showing no tin.
So I told him "Look chummy, this isn't a bank,
If you want something free, just you go have a wash."
And there's no tick, never, these words I repeat,
If you ask me for credit, you'll be out in the street.

Well he dips in his pockets, this ignorant sod,
And he says "Loads-a-money" and he flashes a wad.
So I tells him quite politely, "If you've money to spare,
You are welcome to drink till you falls off your chair
But there's no tick, never, these words I repeat,
If you ask me for credit, you'll be out in the street."

Well he drinks and he drinks, till he can't drink no more,
Then he staggers around and he crawls out the door,
Going home to his Mummy, to beg for a sub -
There's some right bleeding nutters I serve in this pub.
And there's no tick never, these words I repeat,
If you ask me for credit, you'll be out in the street.

With three options for the chorus, according to taste - the one I gave there, or

Oh there's no tick never, in the Rover's Return,
But you can drink like a fish if you've money to burn..

(The point being, that gets the Rover into the song - "The Rover's Return" incidentally being the name of a pub in the English soap opera, "Coronation Street".)

Or

No, No Never, Never no more -
I never give nobody credit no more.

Which has the advantage of being closer to the standard version, and therefore it might make it more acceptable as a substitute in response to a request for the Wild Rover.

I intentionally put it in an English pub, in deference to the song's origins...(It'd take about thirty seconds for anyone to emigrate it to any other required nationality).

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 03:46 PM

I'll play Wild Rover when it's requested... and occasionally, when I've got up my head of steam and am stringing a few songs together, it'll worm its way in toward the end of 3 or 6 songs...

The best way to sing Wild Rover in my book, is to the tune of Ghost Riders In The Sky....

But you can sing a LOT of the old cheese-ball songs to that tune...

:-)

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 07:22 PM

... including "Waltzing Matilda"... :-)

(but don't ever call it "an old cheese-ball song" in public in Aust if you want to keep your front teeth!)

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 07:23 PM

One mans cheese is another mans beef...

:-)

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 11:19 PM

Regularly asked for at both the Blarney and o'Malley's in Shanghai.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: Pauline L
Date: 16 Jan 05 - 03:20 PM

Mick, I don't believe that *any* song would sound tired after being sung too often. One of my personal definitions of great art is something that you can return to time after time, and it's always fresh. I wouldn't consider Wild Rover great art by this definition, but some songs would qualify.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: michaelr
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 12:02 AM

No Nay Never   --


will I play, or sing, or accompany, or have anything to do with this piece of shite song. Or, for that matter, When Irish Eyes, I'll Take You Home Again, or any other of those Oirish evergreens. Even Danny Boy meets with my utmost reluctance.

Why? Well, I guess I have a highly developed "corny" (or call it bullshit) sensor, and that kind of crap just doesn't get past it.

Although I perform in public, I strongly believe that I should not sing any song I can't perform with conviction. If it's crap to me, I'd be deceiving my audience by pretending to perform it.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: s6k
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 04:04 AM

so its your favourite song then ?

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 02:04 PM

The crapness is experienced by the listener or not as the case maybe.
Sing what you like.

I've sung the Wild Rover for many's the year
I've sung it so often I'm sick up to here
But now I have taken vows 20 and 4
I never will sing the Wild Rover no more

No not much.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: Grab
Date: 18 Jan 05 - 11:44 AM

Clinton, I'm afraid I tainted the folk music pools of Windsor by doing "Wild Rover" to the tune of the Banana Boat Song at a song circle ddw took me to. Beware of that one at the Kildare House... :-)

Graham.

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 18 Jan 05 - 03:23 PM

I have head that one before, but not 'attached' to you mate... so yer in the clear I'd imagine...

"Now I've been a folk-singer for many a year
*hic* Can ya... *hic* sshhhling The Wild Rover?", is all that I hear
So I think I'll retire and live on the dole
Where I won't have to sing The Wild Rover NO MORE!"

Is the verse I use at the end... it almost always get a really good laugh from the crowd...

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: Pistachio
Date: 18 Jan 05 - 03:28 PM

Last time I heard the tune the words had been re-written about a tired 'Rover' motor car(   .....as I recall)

And it's no, nay, never no, nay, never, no more
will I buy and old rover, no never, no more!

             >>>> ----<<<<

It's ages since I sang the song with the 'clappy' bit but whatever, it does always 'seem' to go down well, albeit infrequently.

PS I too have heard the magic Muppet 'reggae' version.'Whitby forever'

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: VIN
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 08:15 AM

Yes it's bin done a lot over the years but i still like the song. Alex Campbell used to do a grand version, yay oh yay!

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: GUEST,Davy
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 09:04 AM

I drove a landrover for many a year, and I haven't worked out how to get it in gear......

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: GUEST,davy
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 11:19 AM

Sing it well and folk enjoy it.....so I'm told!

Subject: RE: Wild Rover - do folks still sing this song?
From: GUEST,Tommy T - Denmark
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 08:40 AM

Even in Denmark is it still a popular song, both in english and in Danish.

The Danish words if anybody wants it:

Jeg har været på valsen, men nu er det slut med at bruge hver øre på damer og sprut. Så nu vender jeg hjemad med masser af mønt, for det´ sket med det liv og en andet begyndt. Så´ det slut med at ture - åh - åh -åh med at ture min ven, nu ta'r jeg aldrig mere på valsen igen.

Jeg gik ind på det værtshus, hvor jeg plejed´ at komme, og sagde til tjeneren: "Min lomme er tom". Jeg bad om kredit, men han svarede nej, der er snese af kunder, der´ bedre end dig. Så´ det slut med at ture - åh - åh -åh med at ture min ven, nu ta'r jeg aldrig mere på valsen igen.

Jeg stak hånden i lommen, hev frem alt mit guld, men se baren, jeg stod ved, var bugnende fuld. "Du kan få alt på klods - både i pose og sæk". "Du ka´ rende mig der, hvor min ryg, den blir fræk". Så´ det slut med at ture - åh - åh -åh med at ture min ven, nu ta'r jeg aldrig mere på valsen igen.

Jeg tar hjem til de gamle, jeg be´r dem en bøn, om at modta´ og tilgi´ deres vildfarne søn. Og hvis de vil tilgi´, jeg tror nok de vil, tar jeg bare på valsen en en´ste gang til. Nu' det slut med at ture - åh - åh - åh, med at ture min ven, nu ta'r jeg aldrig mere på valsen igen.