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There's seldom nights that I'm going to ramble,
There's seldom nights that I'm going to roam;
There's seldom nights that I'm going to ramble,
When I know my true love's at home.
For I'm a rover, seldom sober,
I'm a rover of high degree;
It's when I'm drinking I'm always thinking,
How to gain my love's company.
Though the night be dark as dungeon,
There's not a star can be seen above,
I will be guided without a stumble,
Into the arms of my own true love.
For I'm a rover, seldom sober,
I'm a rover of high degree;
It's when I'm drinking I'm always thinking,
How to gain my love's company.
He came up to her bedroom window,
Feeling gently for a stone,
He whispered softly through her window:
"Is my own true love at home?"
For I'm a rover, seldom sober,
I'm a rover of high degree;
It's when I'm drinking I'm always thinking,
How to gain my love's company.
She raised her head from her down-filled pillow,
With her arms around her breast,
Saying, "Who is that at my bedroom window,
Disturbing me at my long night's rest?"
For I'm a rover, seldom sober,
I'm a rover of high degree;
It's when I'm drinking I'm always thinking,
How to gain my love's company.
"'Tis I, my loving faithful lover,
Open the door and let me in,
For I have come on a long night's journey,
And I am nearly thin to the skin."
For I'm a rover, seldom sober,
I'm a rover of high degree;
It's when I'm drinking I'm always thinking,
How to gain my love's company.
She opened the door with the greatest pleasure,
She opened the door and she let me in;
We both shook hands and embraced each other,
Until the morning they lay as one.
For I'm a rover, seldom sober,
I'm a rover of high degree;
It's when I'm drinking I'm always thinking,
How to gain my love's company.
Says I, "My love, I must go and leave you,
And climb the hills be afar above,
But I will climb with the greatest pleasure,
Since I've been in the arms of my love."
For I'm a rover, seldom sober,
I'm a rover of high degree;
It's when I'm drinking I'm always thinking,
How to gain my love's company.
For I'm a rover, seldom sober,
I'm a rover of high degree;
It's when I'm drinking I'm always thinking,
How to gain my love's company.
This variant was recorded by Ryan's Fancy (Newfoundland Drinking Songs, trk#6, 1973, Audat Records, Oshawa, Ontario).
See more songs by Ryan's Fancy.
A variant was recorded as I'm A Rover by Great Big Sea (Turn, 1999; Road Rage, 1999).
See more songs by Great Big Sea.
A variant was also arranged and recorded as I'm A Rover by The Landsmen (Woods & Water, trk#6, 2006, produced by Lloyd Bartlett, and recorded at Village Music, Corner Brook, NL).
