Sandra, many thanks for the links. Warren Fahey recorded an interesting variant of 'Wild Rover' from Sally Sloane. I’VE BEEN A WILD BOY (Traditional) Oh, my father he died and he left me his estate I married a lady whose fortune was great And through keeping bad company, I've spent all my store I have been a wild boy but I'll be so no more Oh, there was Bill, Tom and Harry, and Betsy and Sue And two or three others belonged to our crew We sat up till midnight and made the town roar Oh, I've been a wild boy but I'll be so no more I was always too fond of treating ladies to wine Till my pockets grew empty, too soon I would find Twenty pounds in one night, oh, I've spent them and more Oh, I've been a wild boy but I'll be so no more Oh, it's first down to Newgate, a prisoner I stand I had on cold irons, I had to lament And I had to find comfort as I lay on the floor Oh, I've been a wild boy but I'll be so no more Oh, the next, down to Newgate a prisoner I stand And what I have longed for, is now out of hand And if ever I gain my liberty as I've had before I will be a good boy as I have been before Oh, bad luck to all married men who visit strange doors I have done so myself, but I'll do so no more I'll go home to my family, I'll go home to my wife And I'll be a good boy all the rest of my life Youtube clip The version printed in Stewart and Keesing's 'Old Bush Songs' is closer to the more familiar one that was doing the rounds in the revival. You can find it on Mark Gregory's marvellous site: Click --Stewie.
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