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The Wild Rover
Saint Bushmill's Choir Lyrics
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I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer
But now I'm returning with gold in great store
And I swear I will play the wild rover no more
[Chorus]:
And it's No, Nay, never,
No, nay never no more
No never no more
I went in to an alehouse I used to frequent
And I told the landlady me money was spent
I asked her for credit, but she answered me nay
Such a customer as yours I can get any day
[Chorus]
Then I took from me pocket, a hand full of gold
And than the round table it glittered and gold
Well and the landlady smiled and she served me the best
What I told you before sure it was only in jest"
[Chorus]
I'll go back to my parents, confess what I've done
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son
And, when they've forgive me as oft times before
Then I swear I will will play the wild rover no more
[Chorus 2x]
The Wild Rover by Saint Bushmill's Choir is a classic Irish song that tells the tale of a man who has lived as a wild rover for many years, spending all of his money on whiskey and beer. However, after accumulating great wealth, he decides to leave behind his wild lifestyle and promises not to "play the wild rover no more." The chorus repeats this phrase, emphasizing the singer's intention to change his ways.
The song's first verse describes the singer's past as a wild rover, but the second verse takes a darker turn. He visits an alehouse where he used to spend his money but finds that he is now broke. He asks the landlady for credit but is denied, and she tells him that she can find a better customer than him any day. It is at this point that he realizes the consequences of his wild living.
In the final verse, the singer decides to seek forgiveness from his parents for his past mistakes. He promises to change his ways and not live the wild rover lifestyle anymore. The song ends with a powerful repetition of the chorus, emphasizing once more the singer's decision to turn his life around.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been a wild rover for many's the year
I have been living an unsettled life for many years, frequently moving from place to place, and having no permanent home.
I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer
I have wasted all my money on alcohol and other vices, without thinking about the future.
But now I'm returning with gold in great store
But now I have returned, having acquired a large amount of capital.
And I swear I will play the wild rover no more
And I pledge that I will no longer live irresponsibly and without direction.
And it's No, Nay, never,
And I emphatically state that I will not.
No, nay never no more
I will never again.
Will I play the wild rover,
Live life recklessly without a plan.
No never no more
Never again.
I went in to an alehouse I used to frequent
I returned to a bar that I had previously visited often.
And I told the landlady me money was spent
I informed the lady who runs the establishment that I had no more money.
I asked her for credit, but she answered me nay
I requested credit, but she declined my offer.
Such a customer as yours I can get any day
She informed me that she can get customers like me anytime.
Then I took from me pocket, a hand full of gold
I then produced a large amount of gold from my pocket.
And than the round table it glittered and gold
And as I set the gold on the table, it shimmered in the light.
Well and the landlady smiled and she served me the best
The lady then smiled and provided me with the best service and drinks available.
What I told you before sure it was only in jest"
I explained to her that my previous statements were just jokes.
I'll go back to my parents, confess what I've done
I will return to my parents and admit to my past transgressions.
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son
I will request my parents to forgive me for my previous misdeeds.
And, when they've forgive me as oft times before
And when they do forgive me, as they have done many times in the past.
Then I swear I will will play the wild rover no more
I once again solemnly pledge that I will no longer live my life recklessly and without direction.
And it's No, Nay, never,
And it's an emphatic assertion that I will not.
No, nay never no more
Never again.
Will I play the wild rover,
Live life recklessly without a plan.
No never no more
Never again.
Contributed by Kennedy F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stuart Clark
@David O Rourke Oh so Ireland is going the same way then.
I live in a student Town and the pubs are quite busy for students here, but all the local pubs are pretty dead.
the whole character of a drinker has changed as well.
back in the 80's (when I was 20, you lived for working and going to the Pub, meeting your mates and having a laugh, emulating your peers by telling stories and most importantly meeting the opposite sex when they were tippled as well.
the Community/Society met in the Pub and that was the center of life.
Now there are no such, partly its true to the price, and off licenses being cheaper- but its no fun drinking on your own and muttering away to yourself- bad for you in a way, the drink can take over and social interaction is a great health benefit.
Even if your getting a bollocking of someone or arguing with someone lese, its good for your morale to have a blow out.
In Scotland we have declining popn as well and 20% less young folk than the baby boomer wave. So its the Young folk that must be recruited.
Simon Johansson
Imagine being a pub musician and suddenly none other than the great Dewey Cox joins the gig!
Aidan Keohane
And he never paid for drugsโฆnot once!
Gerg C
Just hide the tableware when he visits.
Gerg C
And he looks terrible for a 16 year old boy.
Craic Dealer
Needs more digeridoos
jimmy Ryan
The musicians are more famous in the area than he is
Mick
Met this man while he was on holiday in Ireland. Absolutely dying with a hangover in Westmeath ๐ did the country proud
Tunes From Doolin
๐๐๐ soon enough we'll be able to reconstruct his entire journey in Ireland ๐๐๐
Brian Gallagher
๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐ฎ๐ชbeautiful
Larfleeze Orangestein
Spend more time there and your hangover will be a thing of a past! They know how to drink my friend