Lyrics and commentary copied from a description of the album "The Hardy Sons of Dan: Football, hunting and other traditional songs from around Lough Erne's shore." Click here.

WILLIE RAMBLER (Roud 3576)
As sung by James Halpin
(Recorded by Keith Summers in the singer's cottage, Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh, 7.8.80)

When I was young and in my prime, my age was twenty-four.
'Twas then I left Lough Erne's banks. To Scotland I sailed o'er.
Where I beheld a fair young maiden, she being of high renown,
And they call her blooming Mary, or the pride of Glasgow town.

Now to this pretty fair one I quite modestly did say,
"Would you agree to come with me and show to me the way?
You know I am a stranger that lately has sailed o'er,
And they call me Willie Rambler, from sweet Lough Erne's shore."

"Now if you are a stranger and never was here before,
Would you agree to stay with me and say you'll roam no more?"
Five hundred pounds she did count down, saying, "This will be your own,
If you bid farewell to Lough Erne's banks and the friends you left at home."

"Oh, how could I leave Lough Erne's banks, where my young Molly dwells,
With a blackbird and thrush in every bush, and the lark in yon flowery dell?
With a blackbird and thrush in every bush, their music I recall,
In June, July and August when the salmon leaps the fall."


A rare song - Roud only knows of another Len Graham 1970 recording of the Halpins, and a 1947 BBC one of Christy Johnston, also from Fermanagh. Gabriel McArdle (from Kinawley, Co Fermanagh) sings this on the Dog Big Dog Little album (Claddagh CC51CD) where the sleeve notes (by Dermot McLaughlin) say:

"The theme of the wanderer being offered hope and comfort by a beautiful and hospitable woman is a recurring one in Irish folksong. Usually the woman's offers are gently refused because of the hero's love for a girl at home. Willie Rambler, however, is quite a businessman and, when asked his price to stay with her, immediately demands five hundred pounds. After the price is agreed he then proceeds to praise the beauties of Ballyshannon and Lough Erne...." (obviously a variation).

Dermot adds that Gabriel learnt the song from Mick Hoy, of Derrygonnelly. It's also sung by Carmel McDermott on the 4-CD set A Call from the Musical Heart of Cavan; the album doesn't have a catalogue number, though its publisher is Cavan County Council/Foras Áiseanna Saothair. Jimmy Halpin can also be heard on To Catch a Fine Buck was My Delight, VotP Topic TSCD668