Lyrics and Chords

Wild rover – words that everyone knows

The lyrics to the Wild Rover are among the most widely known of all Irish songs.

The Wild Rover main page

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In fact, even people who have little knowledge or awareness of Irish music will probably recognize the song immediately they hear it and start singing along, such is its widespread popularity.

Indeed, many people don’t realize it’s an Irish song at all. They’ve been so familiar with it since they were young that they think it must have originated in their own local area.

Wild rover lyrics and chords

 

I’ve  

G 

been a wild rover for many a  

C 

year

 

And I  

G 

spent all my  

D7 

money on whiskey and  

G 

beer,

 

And now I’m returning with gold in great  

C 

store

 

And I  

G 

never will  

D7 

play the wild rover no  

G 

more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

 

And it’s  

D 

no, nay, never,

G 

No nay never no  

C 

more,

 

Will I  

G 

play the wild  

C 

rover

 

No  

G 

never 

 

 

D7 

no 

 

 

G 

more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I  

G 

went to an ale-house I used to  

C 

frequent

 

And I  

G 

told the land

D7 

lady my money was  

G 

spent.

 

I asked her for credit, she answered me  

C 

“Nay

 

Such a  

G 

custom as  

D7 

yours I could have any  

G 

day.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Then  

G 

out of my pocket I took sovereigns  

C 

bright

 

And the  

G 

landlady’s 

 

 

D7 

eyes opened wide with  

G 

delight.

 

She said “I have whiskey and wines of the  

C 

best

 

And the  

G 

words that I  

D7 

spoke sure were only in  

G 

jest.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I’ll  

G 

go home to my parents, confess what I’ve  

C 

done

 

And I’ll  

G 

ask them to  

D7 

pardon their prodigal  

G 

son.

 

And if they caress (forgive) me as ofttimes be

C 

fore

 

Then I  

G 

never will  

D7 

play the wild rover no  

G 

more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

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Information on The Wild Rover