This is an alternative version I put it together about 20 years ago, for use whenever I got asked to deliver the original in sessions. However, someone else would usually insist on singing the original afterwards anyway, so now I've more or less dropped it. But anyone else is welcome to sing it, add their own verses, or whatever.

I've been a folksinger for many a year,
And all round this country I've played for my beer.
But now I'm retiring, though I've no gold in store,
And I never will sing 'The Wild Rover' no more...
And it's NO, NAY, NEVER.... (etc.)... will I SING ... etc.

I went into a folk club I used to frequent,
And said to the doorman "My money's all spent."
He said, "I'll stand you a pint, as I have done before,
If only you'll sing 'The Wild Rover' once more."
But it's no, nay never...

I took my guitar out, and tuned up each string,
Then took a deep breath and got ready to sing,
When a voice from the back shouted out this request:
"Won't you give us the chorus we all love the best?"
But it's...

I'll go back to the labour, confess that I'm beat,
And ask for a job sweeping muck off the street.
And if I can get one, as I have done before,
I'll be b******d if I'll sing 'The Wild Rover' once more!
And it's NO, NAY, NEVER ... (etc.)

HTML line breaks added, in place of double spacing. --JoeClone, 26-Jan-02.