The Wild Rover

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The Wild Rover is a popular Irish ballad. The song is generally recognized as a traditional Irish drinking song, though like many Irish folk songs it also became very popular in Scotland and England. In Britain, the song is especially popular with sport fans and has been adopted as the basis for many football chants. The song is a staple for artists performing live music in Irish pubs.

Lyrics
I've been a wild rover for many's the year,
and I spent all me money on 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! 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 took from me pocket ten sovereigns bright,
and the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight.
She said "I have whiskies and wines of the best,
and the words that I told you were only in jest".

(Chorus)

I'll go home to me parents, confess what I've done,
and I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.
And when they've caressed me as oft times before
then I never will play the wild rover no more.

(Chorus)

[edit] Performing

When performed live in a pub setting, or for an audience, it is a custom for the participants to bang on the table or clap their hands in cadence four times during the break in the chorus, thus: And it's no, nay, never (clap - clap - clap - clap) no, nay, never, no more... "Also During the break some scream "lift up your skirts" in cadence to the clap"

[edit] Recordings

Countless popular singers and bands have covered the song, amongst others

The Dubliners
The Pogues
Týr
Dropkick Murphys
Four to the Bar on their live album Craic on the Road, in a medley with "The Black Velvet Band" and "The Galway Shawl".
Stiff Little Fingers on their live album which was later repackaged as the third disc of their Anthology

[edit] Variations

The landlady's line "and the words that I told you were only in jest" is frequently replaced with either "and I'll take you upstairs and I'll show you the rest" or "and the whores on the floor'll take care of the rest."