“Wild Rover Again” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Wild Rover Again” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Performer: Alistair Hulett.
Lyrics: Roaring Jack.
Tune: Roaring Jack.
“Oh, Johnny, my man, come throw your leg over me.
Why do you lie with your face to the wall?
It’s many the time you’ve played the wild rover;
Tonight, you won’t play the wild rover at all!”
He took out his bow to play on my fiddle.
I cried out, “My love, let the nightingale sing!”
The tune that he played was cut short in the middle:
His bow wasn’t able to reach my top string.
“Johnny, my man, come throw your leg over me.
Why do you lie with your face to the wall?
It’s many the time you’ve played the wild rover;
Tonight, you won’t play the wild rover at all!”
I bought him a flask of the finest malt whisky
To see if it would raise his courage once more.
He drank it straight down. So softly, he kissed me.
Then, he rolled over to sleep and to snore!
“Johnny, my man, come throw your leg over me.
Why do you lie with your face to the wall?
It’s many the time you’ve played the wild rover;
Tonight, you won’t play the wild rover at all!”
I fed him on buttermilk, oysters and garlic;
I did everything that a woman could do.
Alas and alack, his condition was chronic:
The harder I pumped him, the softer he grew.
“Johnny, my man, come throw your leg over me.
Why do you lie with your face to the wall?
It’s many the time you’ve played the wild rover;
Tonight, you won’t play the wild rover at all!”
Then after he’s sleepin’, I run from the chamber.
I put on my clothes as fast as I can.
While he’s in his bed and nothing the wiser,
I roll in the arms of another young man.
And I says, “Me young fella, come throw your leg over me.
Where is the shame in being fond of young men?
It’s many the time I played the wild rover;
Tonight, I will play the wild rover again.”
“It’s many the time I’ve played the wild rover;
Tonight I will play the wild rover again.”