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Well, I played the wild rover for manys the year,
And I spent all me money on whiskey and beer.
But now I'm returning with gold in great store,
And I promise to play the wild rover no more.
And it's no, nay, never, (right up your kilt!)
No, nay, never, no more
Will I play the wild rover,
No, never, no more.
I went into an alehouse I used to frequent,
And I told the landlady me money's all spent.
I asked her for credit, she answered me, "Nay,
So a custom like yours I could have any day."
And it's no, nay, never, (right up your kilt!)
No, never, no more
Will I play the wild rover,
No, never, no more.
And out of my pocket I took handfuls of gold,
And upon the round table they glittered and rolled.
She said, "I have whiskey and meals of the best,
And the words that I told you they were only in jest."
And it's no, nay, never, (right up your kilt!)
No, nay, never, no more
Will I play the wild rover,
No, never, no more.
And out of my pocket I took sovereigns bright,
And the landlady's legs opened wide with delight.
She said, "I have whiskey and beers of the best,
And I'll take you upstairs and I'll show you the rest."
And it's no, nay, never, (right up your kilt!)
No, nay, never, no more
Will I play the wild rover,
No, never, no more.
I'll go back to my parents, confess what I've done,
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.
And if they forgive me as ofttimes before,
But I'll promise to play the wild rover no more.
And it's no, nay, never, (right up your kilt!)
No, nay, never, no more
Will I play the wild rover,
No, never, no more.
And it's no, nay, never, (right up your kilt!)
No, never, no more
Will I play the wild rover,
No, never, no more.
The YouTube video above features an excellent cover performance by Jesse Ferguson.
A variant was collected in 1951 from Mrs. K. McCarthy of St. Shott's, NL, and published as Wild Rover in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
A variant was collected by Helen Creighton [1899-1989] and published as #65 in Songs And Ballads From Nova Scotia (Dent, 1932; Dover, 1966).
A variant was recorded by The Clancy Brothers (Clancy Brothers Live On St. Patrick's Day, 1973)
See more songs by the Clancy Brothers.
A variant was also recorded by The Dubliners (The Dubliners With Luke Kelly, 1964; Live, 1974; Live In Carré, 1985; Alive Alive-O, 1997; Live From The Gaiety, 2002; Live At Vicar Street, 2006).
See more songs by The Dubliners.
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Notes On Guitar Tabs:
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All guitar tabs have been contributed by visitors to this site and represent their interpretation of the tune. We are unable to verify their accuracy.
Well, I [G] played the wild rover for manys the [C] year,
And [G] I spent all me [D] money on whis-[D7] key and [G] beer;
But [G] now I'm returning with gold in great [C] store,
And I [G] promise to play the [D] wild rov-[D7] er no [G] more.
And it's [D] no, nay, ne-[D7] ver, (right up your kilt!)
[G] No, nay, never, no [C] more
Will I [G] play the wild [C] rover,
No [D7] never no [G] more.
