Origin: A-Rovin' I Will Go

15 Mar 99 - 04:39 PM (#63224)
Subject: A Rovin I Will Go
From: skarpi Iceland

Hallo again. Last year I got a song called A rovin I will go and I am told that this song is tradional, I wonder if someone can help me to find out,I will put in the chorus for you . chorus :

A rovin I will go I am off to seek me fortune, I will dig for gold by day and in the night time I will be courtin. A rovin I will go from Dublin across to Boston and west to california and back in five me wanted.

if someone know enything about this song please answear to this thread.sl n go foil skarpi Iceland.

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16 Mar 99 - 01:48 PM (#63488)
Subject: RE: A Rovin I Will Go
From: Matthew B.

The song you seek is "Ten Thousand Miles Away" -- the melody of which evolved into the melody for "Banks of the Sacramento," which in turn was then stolen (and copyrighted) by Steven Foster for "Camptown Races."

The refrain goes:

Blow your winds, high ho

A rovin' I will go

I'll stay no more on England's shore

To hear the music play...

...and so on.

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16 Mar 99 - 02:02 PM (#63490)
Subject: RE: A Rovin I Will Go
From: SteveF (inactive)

Some of us may be more familiar with the version known as "A Capital Ship," which is a parody of "Ten Thousand Miles Away." Both songs are in the DT database. Here is the chorus of "A Capital Ship:"

So, blow ye winds, heigh-ho
A-roving I will go
I'll stay no more on England's shore
So let the music play-ay-ay
I'm off for the morning train
To cross the raging main
I'm off to my love with a boxing glove
10,000 miles away

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16 Mar 99 - 03:37 PM (#63525)
Subject: Lyr Add: A-ROVING I WILL GO
From: skarpi Iceland

Hmmmm. It can't be, Here is the lyrics I have.

I am sitting in this alehouse for five long days and nights,
Deciding to forget her and get on with my life.
It is springtime the valley. It is springtime in my head,
And if I can't do any better than this, I might as well be dead.

Me name it is O'Hara. I was twenty in the fall.
And there is my brother Kevin--well, we are not alike at all.
I will never be a bank clerk, nor week nobody's soul,
I will kiss my mother at the break of dawn, and a-roving I will go.

CHORUS: A-roving I will go. I am off to seek me a fortune.
I will dig for gold by day and in the nighttime, I will be courting.
A-roving I will go, from Dublin across to Boston,
And west to California, and back in five me wanted.

Sweet Mary was my sunshine. Sweet Mary was so true.
Sweet Mary dug my heart out, then she cut it right in two.
And now a voice is calling, as pure as falling snow:
"O'Hara, stop your bawling for a-roving you must go. CHORUS

Farewell to this old alehouse. Farewell to all my friends.
There is something new beginning, every time there is something else.
I will never leave completely, for in my heart you will be.
When I return, I promise now that drinks will be on me. CHORUS

This is the lyric I have and my band is playing. This is a very good song. Are you sure about the other songs?

skarpi Icceland.

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05 Sep 99 - 06:58 AM (#111593)
Subject: Lyr Add: A-ROVING I WILL GO
From: Cleod

Hi skarpi, your lyrics are a bit different from mine:

Been sitting in this alehouse for five long days and nights,
Deciding to forget her and just get on with me life.
It's springtime in the valleys, it's springtime in me head,
And if I can't do no better than this I might as well be dead.

Me name it is O'Hara, I was twenty in the fall,
And there's me brother Kevin, well we're not alike at all.
I'll never be a bank clerk, nor wheat nor barley sow,
I'll kiss me ma at the break of dawn, and a rovin' I will go.

Chorus: A rovin' I will go I'm off to seek me fortune,
I'll dig for gold by day and in the nighttime I'll be courtin'.
A rovin' I will go, from Dublin across to Boston
And west to california and back if I be wantin'.

Sweet Mary was me sunshine, sweet Mary was so true,
Sweet Mary dug me heart out, then she cut it right in two.
And now a voice is calling, as pure as falling snow,
O'Hara, stop your bawling, for a rovin' you must go.

(chorus)

Farewell to this old alehouse, farewell to all me friends.
There's something new beginning everytime that something ends.
I'll never leave completely, for in my heart you'll be,
When I return I promise now the drinks will be on me.

(chorus 2x)

Hope this helps!
Cleod

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