Hi,

Anyone that knows any early Irish versions, please mention or post. Here's my transcription of As I Roved Out. Lomax met Seamus Ennis and family in Dublin in early 1951 so I'm dating this 1951. The last stanza is associated with Trooper and the Maid. Seamus Ennis recorded "When cockle shells make silver bells" AFS 09961A (AFS Number) in 1947 which apparently (I don't have the recording but Paul Clayton did a cover of it in 1957) has additional stanza from Trooper in the Maid (see Gardham's post). Anyone that has more info please post.

As I Roved Out- sung by Seamus Ennis, Dublin c. 1951; recorded by Alan Lomax

As I roved out one bright May morning,
On a May morning early,
As I roved out one bright May morning,
On a May morning early,
I met a maid upon the way,
She was her mama's darling.

Chorus: With me rule-rum-rah, fa-la-diddle-da,
Shall be diddle all the day-dee-do.

Her shoes were black and her stockings white,
And her hair shines like the silver;
Her shoes were black and her stockings white,
And her hair shines like the silver;
She has two nice bright sparking eyes,
And her hair hangs o'er her shoulders.
Chorus

"What age are you, my pretty fair maid?
What age are you, my darling?
"What age are you, my pretty fair maid?
What age are you, my darling?
She answered me quite modestly,
"I'm sixteen years next Monday morning."
Chorus

"Will you come to my Mama's house,
The moon shines bright and clearly?
Will you come to my Mama's house,
The moon shines bright and clearly?
Oh, open the door and let me in,
And Dada will not hear us."
Chorus

"When will you return again,
Or when will we get married?
When will you return again,
Or when will we get married?"
"When cockle shells make silver bells
That's the time we'll marry."
Chorus

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXSbxe-FHEQ

Richie