Lyrics and music Traditional

(Performed by The Brobdingnagian Bards on A Faire to Remember)
(Performed by Fugli on On the Woad)
(Performed by Howl-O on Disc O'Peers)
(Performed by Jim Hancock & Friends on Good Companions)

Parody Lyrics by Bill Palmer, music Traditional
(Performed by The Bedlam Bards on Take Out the Trash)


I've been a wild rover for many a year
And I spent all me 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,
No nay never no more,
Will I play the wild rover,
No (nay) never no more.

I went to 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 a custom as yours I can have any day."

I took from me pocket ten sovereigns bright
And the landlady's eye opened wide with delight
She said, "I have whiskey and wines of the best
And the words that you told me were only in jest."
(alt. and I'll take you upstairs, and I'll show you the rest)

I'll go home to me parents, confess what I've done
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son
And when they forgive me as oft-times before
Then I never will play the wild rover no more.


Background from Daniel Womack: This is a 17th century English ballad written, it's believed, by Thomas Lanfiere. Since it was first published, the lyrics have changed a bit and the tune, made popular by The Dubliners, has become a pub favorite all over the world. There are even dozens of "Don't Make me sing 'The Wild Rover' no more" parodies in existence today. One of these appears on Take Out the Trash by the Bedlam Bards.
Cedric adds: Bill Palmer is known to TRF audiences as "Merlin the Magician". What the audiences don't know [ed. they do now!] is that Bill is a very talented musician who often plays and sings around the campfires after all the patrons go home. Some years ago, he filked the old traditional in honor of Hawke, whom he dubbed "Old Leather Lungs."
So without further ado, here are those lyrics*:


I've been a musican for many a year
I've hustled my share of both whiskey and beer
There's one Irish tune, nearly drove me insane;
So I never will play "The Wild Rover" again!

And it's no, nay, never,
No nay never no more.
Will I play "The Wild Rover"?
No never, no more!

I've heard it by Germans, I've heard it by Turks,
I've heard it by all kinds of well-meaning jerks;
By great hulking cowboys with rodeo belts,
And even by Wogs masquerading as Celts.

They play it at concerts, they play it at bars,
They play it on banjos and classic guitars;
On great synthesizers and bagpipes to boot,
And even on Polynesian nose flutes.

Last night in a dream that was clear as a bell,
I died and I wound up in folk singers hell.
Old scratch and his demons were cackling with glee,
"You'll play 'The Wild Rover' for eternity."

*I am trying to find Lanfiere's original words at the moment and will add them at the bottom when I find all 13 verses. I know they're in Roxburghe Ballads, Vol VI, pgs 342-345. I just do not have a copy of the book nor can I find it on the 'net.

If you have a copy of the original lyrics or if there is a song you've heard on the podcast that you would like to see included, please do not hesitate to contact me at lyrics@renaissancefestivalmusic.com.