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Biography
The Wild Rover ( Roud Folk Song Index|Roud 1173) is a popular folk song whose origins are contested.
History
Historically the song has been referred to in Irish folklore, and since the late sixteenth century it has been noted in written records, although it is likely that some northern Atlantic fishing crews knew the song before these historical accounts were made.
The song is a staple for artists performing live music in public house|Irish pubs . It is often considered to be a drinking song rather than a Temperance song. For many people, the Wild Rover is the stereotypical Irish drinking song. http://www.irishmusicforever.com/wild-rover In the twentieth century the location of the song became a major concern due to its popularity, spurring continued debate amongst several European nations.
The Wild Rover is the most widely performed Irish song, although its exact origins are unknown.
The song tells the story of a young man spending all his money on alcoholic beverages. He goes to an alehouse and asks for credit, the landlady refuses it.
However, he then takes bright sovereigns from his pocket, and he is answered. The young man says with irony that it will never happens again as long as their parents will give money him.
Other overview or significant versions
According to Professor T. M. Devine in his book The Scottish Nation 1700 - 2000 (Penguin, 2001) the song was written as a Temperance movement|temperance song. http://www.ias.org.uk/resources/publications/alcoholalert/alert200001/al200001_p20.html Whisky's awa' The song is found printed in a book, The American Songster , printed in the USA by W.A. Leary in 1845, and spread from Scotland to America from the Temperance movement. There is another USA printed version in the "Forget-Me-Not Songster" (c 1850), published by Locke. An alternative history of the song is suggested by the fact that a collection of ballads, dated between 1813 and 1838, is held in the Bodleian Library . The printer, Catnach, was based in the "7 Dials" area of Covent Garden, London. The Bodleian bundle contains "The Wild Rover". http://bodley24.bodley.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/acwwweng/regsrch.pl? recnums=991:5269:11338:19833:27516:27524:27527:39116:40971:40973:44197& index=1& db=ballads The Greig-Duncan collection contains no less than six versions of the song. It was compiled by Gavin Greig 1848–1917.
Influence
Raymond Daly and Derek Warfield describe how the fans of Celtic Football Club in Scotland Celtic and Ireland in Song and Story, pub Studio Print, 2008 pp361 sing The Wild Rover at away matches. The chorus is well known throughout most Irish, Irish-American and British cultures, even among people who have no knowledge of the rest of the song.
As with Celtic Football Club , the chorus is sung by football fans throughout England, usually with the words adapted to suit the team in question.
Many companies have also taken advantage of the tune's popularity and used it to advertise their products. Dairy Crest adapted the chorus to advertise their Clover (spread)|Clover margarine in the UK.
Lyrics
Lyrics
I've been a wild rover for many's the year,
and I spent all me money on whisky|whiskey and beer .
And now I'm returning with gold in great store,
and I never will play the wild rover no more.
(Chorus):
And it's no, nay, never& #33; 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 could have any day".
(Chorus)
I pulled from me pocket a handful of gold,
and on the round table it glittered and rolled.
She said "I have whiskeys and wines of the best,
and the words that I told you were only in jest".
(Chorus)
I'll have none of your whiskeys nor fine Spanish wines,
For your words show you clearly as no friend of mine.
There's others most willing to open a door,
To a man coming home from a far distant shore.
(Chorus)
I'll go home to me parents, confess what I've done,
and I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son .
And if they forgive me as oft times before,
I never will play the wild rover no more.
(Chorus)
Recordings
Countless popular singers and bands have covered the song, amongst others
Mudmen on their album "Another Day" released in 2010. The Mudmen feature bagpipers Rob and Sandy Campbell who perform on the Hockey Night In Canada theme song on CBC television.
Off Kilter
Orthodox Celts on their debut album in 1994
The Pogues , on the 2004 remaster of their debut album, Red Roses For Me
Stiff Little Fingers on their live album which was later repackaged as the third disc of their Anthology
The Town Pants
Týr (band)|Týr on their 2003 album Eric the Red (album)|Eric the Red
Prydein
Wolfe Tones
Woods Tea Company
External links
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? storyId=94576896 Performance by The High Kings on NPR, 2008-09-14
http://www.irishmusicforever.com/wild-rover
http://www.drinking-songs.com/wild-rover-no-nay-never Wild Rover Sheet Music
References
Reflist DEFAULTSORT:Wild Rover Category:Scottish folk songs Category:Irish folk songs Category:Traditional ballads Category:Drinking songs Category:The Dubliners songs Category:American folk songs Category:Alcohol in Scotland Category:19th-century songs Category:19th century in Scotland Category:Songs about alcohol