Kelly was one of the best-known figures of the Irish folk music movement of the 1960s and 1970s. A Dubliner from the north inner city, he attended O'Connell's Schools before emigrating to Britain in 1958. There he first became involved in the growing international folk music scene in which Ewan MacColl was a central figure, as well as joining the Communist Party of Great Britain.
In 1962 Luke Kelly returned to Dublin and quickly became a central figure in the city's burgeoning folk music community, playing in sessions in O'Donoghue's Pub on Merrion Row with the likes of Ronnie Drew, Barney McKenna and The Fureys. Not long after, he ended up forming a folk group with Drew, McKenna, Ciaran Bourke and John Sheahan, which he named The Dubliners. In 1965, Kelly married the actress Deirdre O'Connell, one of the founders of the Focus Theatre.
In the mid-1960s, Luke moved to England for a while. On returning, he rejoined the Dubliners. His interpretations of "Raglan Road" (a poem by Patrick Kavanagh) and Scorn Not His Simplicity were significant musical achievements and became points of reference in Irish folk music. Luke remained a politically engaged musician, and many of the songs he recorded dealt with social issues, the arms race and war, workers' rights and Irish nationalism, ("The Springhill Disaster", "Second World Song", "When Margaret was Eleven", "Joe Hill", "The Button Pusher", "Alabama 1958" and "God Save Ireland" all being good examples of his concerns). One of the Dubliners' seminal albums was titled Revolution. In the socially and politically conservative atmosphere of the Republic of Ireland at the time, this was notable.
Luke Kelly was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1980, and died in 1984. He remains a Dublin icon and his music is widely regarded as one of the city's cultural treasures.
The Ballybough Bridge in the north inner city of Dublin has been renamed the The Luke Kelly Bridge and in November 2004, the Dublin city council voted unanimously to erect a bronze statue of Luke Kelly. The location for the statue had not yet been decided upon.
From Dublin streets and roads and down the years
Came great musicians and balladeers
There was a special one, a red haired minstrel boy
And when he passed away, a city mourned its favourite son
All round the markets and down the quays
The sad news it spread to the Liberties
The minstrel boy is gone, he'll sing no more
And Luke somehow we know, we'll never see your likes again
The Wild Rover
Luke Kelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer
But 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
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 a custom as yours I can have every day"
And it's no, nay, never
No, nay, never no more
Will I play the wild rover
No, never no more
I then took from me pocket ten sovereigns bright
And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight
She says "I have whiskeys and wines of the best"
And the words that you tolt me were only in jest
And it's no, nay, never
No, nay, never no more
Will I play the wild rover
No, never no more
I'll home to my parents, confess what I'd done
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son
And when they've caressed me as ofttimes before
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
And it's no, nay, never
No, nay, never no more
Will I play the wild rover
No, never no more
The Wild Rover is a traditional Irish folk song, which tells the story of a young man who has been living a wild and reckless lifestyle for many years, spending all of his money on alcohol and partying. However, he has come to the realization that this is not the way he wants to live his life anymore, and he is ready to turn over a new leaf. The first verse sets the scene, with the singer declaring that he has been a wild rover for many years, but now he has returned home with a newfound sense of purpose and has no intention of returning to his old ways.
The second verse describes a scene in which the singer enters an alehouse and asks the landlady for credit, but is denied. However, when he reveals that he has ten sovereigns in his pocket, the landlady's attitude changes, and she offers him the finest whiskey and wine. This verse highlights the theme of money and the power it can have over people's behavior.
The final verse finds the singer returning home to his parents, admitting his wrongs and asking for forgiveness. He declares that he will never play the wild rover again, showing that he has made a complete change of heart and is ready to start a new, more responsible chapter in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been a wild rover for many's the year
I have lived a wild and reckless life for many years
And I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer
I have wasted all my money on alcohol
But now I'm returning with gold in great store
I am now returning with wealth and riches
And I never will play the wild rover no more
I have learned from my mistakes and will not live a wild life again
And it's no, nay, never
I am confident and resolute in my decision
No, nay, never no more
I am determined to stick to my decision
Will I play the wild rover
I will not live a wild and reckless life
I went into an alehouse I used to frequent
I visited a pub that I used to frequent
And I told the landlady me money was spent
I informed the pub owner that I had no more money
I asked her for credit, she answered me 'nay'
I requested credit but was denied by the pub owner
'Such a custom as yours I can have every day'
The pub owner remarked that she frequently dealt with people like me
I then took from me pocket ten sovereigns bright
I had ten gold coins in my pocket
And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight
The pub owner was delighted to see the gold coins
She says 'I have whiskeys and wines of the best'
The pub owner offered me the best drinks
And the words that you tolt me were only in jest
The excuse I gave about not having money was just a joke
I'll home to my parents, confess what I'd done
I will go to my parents and admit to my mistakes
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son
I will ask for forgiveness from my parents for my wild and reckless life
And when they've caressed me as ofttimes before
When my parents have shown me love and affection as they have done before
I never will play the wild rover no more
I will not live a wild and reckless life again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CIARAN PADRAIG MAIRE BOURKE, RONALD JOSEPH DREW, ROBERT ANTHONY LYNCH, BARNEY MCKENNA, JOHN EDMUND SHEAHAN, LUKE KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elstonngunn4193
I've been a wild rover for many's the year
And I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer
But 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 never no more
I went to an alehouse I used to frequent
I told the landlady my money was spent
I ask her for credit, she answered me nay
Such a custom as yours I can have any day
And it's no, nay, never
No, nay never no more
Will I play the wild rover
No never no more
I brought from me pocket ten sovereigns bright
And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight
She said:'I have whiskeys and wines of the best
And the words that you told me were only in jest'
And it's no, nay, never
No, nay never no more
Will I play the wild rover
No never 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 when they've caressed me, as oft times before
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
And it's no, nay, never
No, nay never no more
Will I play the wild rover
No never no more
@LeeThompson-iw3rp
I love you Grandad, I think about you every single day. You used to sing me this and you were the best man I've ever met. You made me into the man I am today x
@thepiratecats801
Luke Kelly and Ronnie Drew. What a combo.
@gerrymcguire7382
Agree mate .they two voices in the one group top class
@zodiaco5526
I am 72 yo. This song always makes me happy. Thank you indded, Dublineers. Greetings from Italy.
@BlackLabelSociety360
Luke Kelly was a force!!! Absolute legend and greatly missed by all those who loved him and the music. RIP to The Dubliners 💚 🇮🇪 ☘️
@kevincrowley6991
The best combination god bless legend
@daisypeters3216
LISTENING TO LUKE'S SONGS ALWAYS!
@PickingGaz1972
I dont know anyone better. What a man
@jaymooney1285
Luke’s on top form with the fella’s there. I sense the joy. Cheers. ☘️
@seriousnesstv7902
Beautiful, these are worth of being sea shanties