Roller Bowler
Finn & Haddie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Away, you roller bowler!
As I rolled out one mornin'
I met a lady fair
T-me!!
Hey-rig-a-jig an′ a ha-ha
Good morning ladies all
Away, you roller bowler
Hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha!
Good mornin', ladies all
The first time that I saw her
Away, you roller bowler!
The first time that I saw her,
That saucy gal of mine
T-me!!
Hey-rig-a-jig an′ a ha-ha
Good morning ladies all
Away, you roller bowler
T-me!!
Hey-rig-a-jig an′ a ha-ha!
Good mornin', ladies all
But when she found that I was skint
Away, you roller bowler!
But when she found that I was skint
She left me standing there
T-me!!
Hey-rig-a-jig an′ a ha-ha
Good morning ladies all
Away, you roller bowler
T-me!!
Hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha!
Good mornin′, ladies all
I squared me yards an' sailed away
Away, you roller bowler!
I squared me yards an′ sailed away
An' to the ship I went
T-me!!
Hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha
Good morning ladies all
Away, you roller bowler
T-me!!
Hey-rig-a-jig an′ a ha-ha!
Good mornin′, ladies all
She winked & flipped a flipper
Away, you roller bowler!
She winked & flipped a flipper
She thought I was a mate
T-me!!
Hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha
Good morning ladies all
Away, you roller bowler
T-me!!
Hey-rig-a-jig an′ a ha-ha!
Good mornin', ladies all
END
The lyrics to Finn & Haddie's song "Roller Bowler" tell the story of a man who meets a beautiful woman one morning and is instantly smitten with her. He uses playful language to describe her, calling her "saucy" and "lady fair," and even includes some nonsensical phrases like "hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha" throughout the song. However, when the man finds himself without money, the woman loses interest in him and he is left alone. The man decides to sail away and escape the disappointment, but not before the woman gives him a flirty goodbye.
The song seems to be highlighting the fickle nature of relationships and how quickly things can change based on external circumstances. The playful language and upbeat tempo contrast with the underlying sadness of the story, making it a unique and thought-provoking song.
Line by Line Meaning
As I rolled out one mornin', Away, you roller bowler!, As I rolled out one mornin', I met a lady fair
The singer tells the story of how he met a lady while out for a walk one morning.
T-me!!, Hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha, Good morning ladies all, Away, you roller bowler, T-me!!, Hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha!, Good mornin', ladies all
A chorus of singers chants encouraging phrases and greets the ladies they encounter on their travels.
The first time that I saw her, Away, you roller bowler!, The first time that I saw her, That saucy gal of mine
The singer remembers the moment he first laid eyes on the lady he would come to think of as his own.
But when she found that I was skint, Away, you roller bowler!, But when she found that I was skint, She left me standing there
When the lady learned that the singer did not have money, she abandoned him without a second thought.
I squared me yards an' sailed away, Away, you roller bowler!, I squared me yards an' sailed away, An' to the ship I went
The singer became determined to put the past behind him and set off to work on a ship.
She winked & flipped a flipper, Away, you roller bowler!, She winked & flipped a flipper, She thought I was a mate
The lady seems to have flirted with the singer, mistaking him for a potential romantic partner or a friend.
Writer(s): Traditional
Contributed by Gabriel M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.