A Rovin'
Traditional:
courtesy of www.SailorSongs.com
Hear the song sample on the Sea Shanty Page.
It was recorded by Roger Chartier on the "Sailor Songs" CD -
The melody possibly back to 1640 used on flywheel pump handles and windlass
In Amsterda-am there li-ived a-a maid * mark well what I do say*
In Amsterdam there li-ived a-a maid an she was mistre-ess of her trade*
The CHORUS:
I’ll go no more a rovin with you fair maid
A rovin’ A rovin’ since rovin’s been my-y ru-i-in
I’ll go no more a rovin’ with you fair maid
One night I cre-ept from my-y a-abode mark well what I do say
One night I crept from my-y a-abode
To meet this fair ma-aid down the road.
CHORUS
I met this fa-air maid a-af te-er dark mark well what I do say
I met this fair maid a-af te-er dark and took her to he-er favourite park
CHORUS
I took this fa-air maid fo-or a walk mark well what I do say
I took this fair maid fo-or a –a walk and we had such a-a lovin’ talk
CHORUS
I put me a-arm aro-ound he-er waist* mark well what I do say
I put me arm aro - und he-er waist says she young man ye-er in great haste
CHORUS
I towed her to-o the-e Mai-ai de-ens Breast mark well what I do say
I towed her to the Mai-aide-ens Breast from South the wind ve-ered sou-sou-wes
CHORUS
We had a dri-ink of grub we had a snatch mark well what I do say
We had a drink of grub we had a snatch
We sent two bottle-les down the hatch
CHORUS
Her dainty a-arms was whi-ite a-as milk Mark well what I do say
Her dainty arms was whi-ite a-s milk Her lovely hair was so-oft as silk
CHORUS
She swore that she-e’d be tru-ue to-o me mark well what I do say
She swore that she’d be tru-ue to-o me but
She spent my pay da-ay fast and free
CHORUS
In three weeks ti-me I was ba-adly-y bent mark well what I do say
I three weeks time I was ba-adly-y bent Then off to sea I-I sadly went
CHORUS
The author of this website has put a lot of time and effort into gathering the greatest collection of sea shanties for the world to enjoy - There are songs that have been to sung to a job of work at sea for many, many years and collecting them has been a great endeavour. - Roger Chartier has made the effort out of his own interest and the requests that he has gotten to do this work from fellow musicians who wanted a good source of sea shanties to draw on and learn from. He has been told that for this effort he is a remarkable man.
