THE WILD ROVER

1
I have been a wild rover, this many's the year,
And I've spent all my money, drinking ale and strong beer,
But now for the future, I will take better care,
In case that misfortune shall fall to my share.

Refrain:
Wild roving I'll give it over,
Wild roving give o'er,
And I ne'er will be called the,
Wild rover no more.

2
I went into an alehouse, I used to resort,
And I told the landlady, my money was short,
When she heard of my story, to me she did say,
I can have many customers like you any day.

3
I put my hand in my pocket, some money to find,
And I pulled out the full of, my two fists,…five times,
When she saw that I had the money, and money go leor, (1)
When she saw that I had the money, she called me her stór. (2)
She says, "I have the whiskey, and that of the best,
And the words that I have spoken, were only in jest."

4
If I had all the money, I have placed in your care,
It would till all my lands and, my family rear,
It would thatch all my houses. It would build me a barn.
It would buy me a coat for to keep my back warm.

Nótaí/Notes:
1. go leor = lots of
2. stór = treasure

This song I got from my good friend and great singer Gerry Cullen. He told me at the time that it was a Mary-Ann Carolan song. I like it a lot, particularly the last verse, where the singer addresses the landlady behind the bar. Over the years however, I've got into the habit of singing the song with my fingers crossed during the refrain!

Leagan an-deas é den amhrán coitianta atá ann.

The above version is sung to a different and slower tune than the one usually used. I do not know of any recordings of it.