As I Roved Out
Words & Music:
Traditional, after Planxty
Dm
C G
C
As I roved out, on a bright May morning,
F
Em Dm G
To view the meadows and flowers gay;
F
Em G Dm
Whom should I spy but my own true lover
F
G
As she sat under yon willow tree.
I took off my hat and I did salute her
I did salute her, most courageously.
When she turned around, well, the tears fell from her.
Saying, "False young man, you have deluded me."
"A diamond ring I owned I gave you,
A diamond ring to wear on your right hand."
"But the vows you made, love, you went and broke them...
And married the lassie that had the land."
"If I married the lassie that had the land, my love,
ItÕs that IÕll rue. Ōtil the day I die.
When misfortune falls, sure no man can shun it...
I was a blind fool, IÕll neÕer deny."
Now at nights when I go to my bed of slumber.
The thoughts of my true love run in my mind.
When I turn around to embrace my darling...
Instead of gold, sure Ōtis brass I find.
And I wish the Queen would call home her army,
From the West Indies, Amerikay and Spain.
And every man to his wedded woman...
In hopes that you and I will meet again.
As I Roved Out, Alternate Version
Am
G
Am
G
And who are you, me
pretty fair maid, and who are you, me honey?
Am
G
Am
G
And who are you, me
pretty fair maid, and who are you, me honey?
Am
Em
G
She answered me
quite modestly, "I am me mother's darling."
Am G
Am
With me too-ry-ay,
fol-de-diddle-day, di-re fol-de-diddle dai-rie oh.
And will you come
to me mother's house, when the sun is shining clearly (repeat)
I'll open the door
and I'll let you in, and divil 'o one
would hear us.
With me too-ry-ay,
fol-de-diddle-day, di-re fol-de-diddle dai-rie oh.
So I went to her
house in the middle of the night, when the moon was shining clearly (repeat)
She opened the door
and she let me in and divil the one did hear us.
With me too-ry-ay,
fol-de-diddle-day, di-re fol-de-diddle dai-rie oh.
She took me horse
by the bridle and the bit, and she led him to the stable ( repeat )
Saying
"There's plenty of oats for a soldier's horse, to eat it if he's
able."
With me too-ry-ay,
fol-de-diddle-day, di-re fol-de-diddle dai-rie oh.
Then she took me by
the lily-white hand and she led me to the table ( repeat )
Saying
"There's plenty of wine for a soldier boy, to drink it if you're
able."
With me too-ry-ay,
fol-de-diddle-day, di-re fol-de-diddle dai-rie oh.
Then I got up and
made the bed, and I made it nice and aisy ( repeat )
Then I got up and
laid her down, saying "Lassie, are you able?"
With me too-ry-ay,
fol-de-diddle-day, di-re fol-de-diddle dai-rie oh.
And there we lay
till the break of day and divil a one did hear us ( repeat )
Then I arose and
put on me clothes saying "Lassie, I must leave you."
With me too-ry-ay,
fol-de-diddle-day, di-re fol-de-diddle dai-rie oh.
And when will you
return again and when will we get married ( repeat )
When broken shells
make Christmas bells we might well get married.
With me too-ry-ay,
fol-de-diddle-day, di-re fol-de-diddle dai-rie oh.