Lyr. Add: THE ROVER FROM CLAUDY

I am a bold rover that's jolly and free,
Both city and village are equal to me,
Nigh sweet Cumbelclatty I once did reside,
Where the bright Faughan does murmuring glide,
I hated labor & learned no trade,
To seek for adventure sure I am the blade
Thro' Ulster & Linsley the customs to see,
But the rover from Claudy will bore the degree.

Among the air wenches so charming and young
Their favours to gain by a smooth oily tongue,
With a heart that was merry my hours I spent,
Their love to obtain fill'd(?) me still with content,
From gay Londonderry my course I did steer,
To snug Leiterkenny was my next career,
The girls in hundreds they came flocking down,
To welcome the Rover from Claudy to town.

I enjoy'd them one night(?) to Strabane took my way,
And made a short turn to Balleymesey,
Thro' hilig(?) lofty Barnes was next my landfall,
Till at length I arrive in sweet Donegal;
A twig from the Faughan I brought it from home,
That was often try'd in(?) the County Tyrone,
The girls came thronging my cudgel to see,
Declaring the Claudy man's staff should go free.

I left them to ponder the worthof my stick,
And to Ballyshannon my course it was quick,
On saturday's market that very same day,
Shillelali from Claudy my reck'ning did pay;
The price of their yarn they to me did bring,
Saying here is the boy that can cudgel & sing,
His heart is so lively and and notes in such glee,
None equals the Claudy bold Rover for me.

To sweet Enniskillen that never did fail,
Upon the nex' Thursday with a pleasant gale,
Kind Boreas' blast blew me fair into town,
Where each girl she pawned her mantle and gown;
Their shawls and pelisses, that cost them so high,
For trifles of money they soon let them fly,
To hire the Rover a while for to stay,
For the twig from the Faughan stole their hearts away.

pelisse = any kind of furred garment. Some town names perhaps incorrectly spelled; printing poor. Faughan- a tree? and a stream?

Suggestive of the "Gaberlunzie Man" and some lyrics of the "Jolly Beggar," Child # 279: Gaberlunzie Man
Bodelien Library, Harding B17(262b), Glasgow, ca. 1825, W. Carse, printer.