Page 100
Roud Folk Song Index #3135
Bm#5add11 x20030
I'm A Rover
by trad
( Chorus
I’m a [D] rover and [Bm#5] seldom [D] sober,
I’m a [D] rover o’high [A7] degree,
It’s when I’m [D] drinking I’m always thinking
How to gain my love’s [A7] comp- [D] any. )
Though the nicht be as dark as dungeon,
No’ a star to be seen above,
I will be guided without a stumble
Into the airms o’ my ain true love.
He steppit up to her bedroom window,
Kneelin’ gently upon a stone,
He rappit at her bedroom-window:
“Darlin’ dear, do you lie alone?”
She raised her heid on her snaw-white pillow,
Wi’ her airms aboot her breast:
“Wha’ is that at my bedroom-window,
Disturbin’ me at my lang night’s rest?”
“It’s only me, your ain true lover;
Open the door and let me in,
For I hae come on a lang journey
And I’m near drenched to the skin.”
She opened the door wi’ the greatest pieasure,
She opened the door and she let him in;
They baith shook hands and embraced each other,
Until the mornin’ they lay as one.
The cocks were crawin’, the birds were whistlin’,
The burns they ran free abune the brae;
“Remember, lass, I’m a ploughman laddie
And the fairmer I must obey.
“Noo, my lass, I must gang and leave thee,
And though the hills they are high above,
I will climb them wi’ greater pleasure
Since I been in the airms o’ my love.”
I’m a [D] rover and [Bm#5] seldom [D] sober,
I’m a [D] rover o’high [A7] degree,
It’s when I’m [D] drinking I’m always thinking
How to gain my love’s [A7] comp- [D] any. )
Though the nicht be as dark as dungeon,
No’ a star to be seen above,
I will be guided without a stumble
Into the airms o’ my ain true love.
He steppit up to her bedroom window,
Kneelin’ gently upon a stone,
He rappit at her bedroom-window:
“Darlin’ dear, do you lie alone?”
She raised her heid on her snaw-white pillow,
Wi’ her airms aboot her breast:
“Wha’ is that at my bedroom-window,
Disturbin’ me at my lang night’s rest?”
“It’s only me, your ain true lover;
Open the door and let me in,
For I hae come on a lang journey
And I’m near drenched to the skin.”
She opened the door wi’ the greatest pieasure,
She opened the door and she let him in;
They baith shook hands and embraced each other,
Until the mornin’ they lay as one.
The cocks were crawin’, the birds were whistlin’,
The burns they ran free abune the brae;
“Remember, lass, I’m a ploughman laddie
And the fairmer I must obey.
“Noo, my lass, I must gang and leave thee,
And though the hills they are high above,
I will climb them wi’ greater pleasure
Since I been in the airms o’ my love.”