The Rover

[woodblock image of man holding a hooked
walking stick]

When I was a wild and rambling boy,
Always in the alehouse boozing,
The landlord he prov'd kind to me,
The gallows old whore was always a growling.

THe landlord he went out one day,
Left me in the alehouse bawling,
Three virgins they came flocking in,
Surrounding me like bees a swarming.

One of them was kinder than the rest,
She was one of my own chusing,
I clapt my hand below her waist,
And caught her by the band of Music.

I went up stairs unto my bed,
The chamber door was open,
Now, said I, it is my time,
To shut all doors that I find open.

I pull'd my shoes from off my feet,
And gently stept into the chamber,
With kisses sweet and compliment,
Have you any lodging for a stranger?

The fair maid made me this reply,
I fear young man you are a Rover,
The Devil a word this young man said,
But cry'd my dear, lie further over.

He instantly jumpt into bed,
And immediately threw his leg over,
The Devil a word this fair maid said,
But lay and laugh'd till the game was over.

Then I heard a d---- noise,
Who should it be, but her mother,
Caught me between her daughter's thighs;
The gallows old whore sung out murder.

She said, young man, my daughter you smother,
Your daughter I will surely wed,
Provided I could get no other,
Then nimbly jumped out of bed.

He caught her by the gallows old shoulder,
And shov'd her head behind the door
And left her there to curse her daughter,
For all that had happen'd to her before

Pg 235-236, Later English Broadside Ballads edited by John
Holloway and Joan Black. 1975. The broadside has no date and no
printer. Holloway & Black do not date this broadside.

See here: https://archive.org/details/laterenglishbroa0001holl/page/234/mode/2up?view=theater


The Holloway & Black text seems to be from Madden Ballads microfilm
Reel: 03, Frame 1802 according to this PDF which lists "The rover" title
and the first line "When I was a wild and rambling boy".

Although Legman dates this broadside to 1790s, did the original have
the long "s" which would have been used ?