|
Versie 1:
I’ve been a wild rover this many a year
And I’ve spent all my money on whisky and beer
But now I’m returning with gold in great store
And I never shall play the wild rover no more
Chorus
No, no, never, never no more
Never never again shall I play
The wild rover no more
I dropped into a shanty I used to frequent
And I told the landlady my money was spent
I asked her for credit she answered me nay
Such a custom as yours I can get every day
Then I drew from my pocket ten sovereigns bright
And the landlady’s eyes opened wide with delight
Said she I have whisky and wines of the best
And the words that I told you were only in jest
There was Kitty and Betsy and Margaret and Sue
And three or four more that belonged to our crew
We’d sit up till midnight and make the place roar
I’ve been the wild boy but I’ll be so no more
So now I’m a prisoner to “Nugget” was sent
On a bed of cold straw to lie and lament
At last I have got what so long I looked for
I’ve been a wild boy but I’ll be so no more
I’ll go home to my parents confess what I’ve done
And I’ll ask them to pardon their prodigal son
And if they will do so as often before
Then I never shall play the wild rover no more |
Versie 2:
I’ve been a wild rover for many’s a year
And I’ve spent all my money on whiskey and beer
But now I’m returning with gold in fine store
And I never will play the wild rover no more
And it’s no,nay, never
No nay never no more
Will I play the wild rover
No never no more
I went into an ale house, I used to frequent
And I told the landlady, me money was spent
I asked her for credit she answered me, nay
Saying custom like the G.G’s I can get any day
So I pulled from my pocket a handful of gold
And around the round table it flickered and rolled
She said, way for your whisky but beer is the best
What I told you before, sure twas only in jest
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
I’ll go back to my parents, confess what I’ve done
And I hope that they’ll pardon the prodigal son
And if they forgive me, as oft times before
I never will play the wild rover no more. |
|
Notes:
Printed in Stewart and Keesing Old Bush Songs with the note: “From Dr Percy Jones’s collection, with additional stanzas collected by Russel Ward from Mrs Byrnes. There is another version in Paterson’s Old Bush Songs”. John Meredith collected versions of the song from Edwin Goodwin, a timber-cutter from the Nambucca River area in northern NSW, from fiddler and journalist Joe Cashmere, and from Collie Burke. Collie Burke learned the song from her father in Burragorang Valley, an area now submerged by the Warragamba Dam. ‘Wild Rover’ is well known in Ireland, Britain and North America. Nugget in the song is Newgate Gaol, the English prison. |
|
|
Versie 3:
I’ve been a wild rover for many a year
And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer,
And now I’m returning with gold in great store
And I never will 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 to an ale-house I used to frequent
And I told the landlady my money was spent.
I asked her for credit, she answered me “nay
Such a custom as yours I could have any day.”
I took from my pocket ten sovereigns bright
And the landlady’s eyes opened wide with delight.
She said “I have whiskey and wines of the best
And the words that I spoke sure were only in jest.”
I’ll go home to my parents, confess what I’ve done
And I’ll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.
And if they caress (forgive) me as ofttimes before
Sure I never will play the wild rover no more. |
Versie 4:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
I went into an alehouse I used to frequent,
And I told the landlady me money was spent.
I asked her for credit, she answered me nay,
Such custom as yours I can have any day.
I reached into me pocket, pulled out sovereigns bright,
And the landlady’s eyes opened wide with delight.
She said “I have whiskey and wines, all the best,
And the words that I spoke you were only in jest.”
I went home to me parents, confessed what I oughtta,
And asked them to pardon their prodigal daughter.
And as they caressed me as oft times before,
I promised to play the wild rover no more. |
