As I Roved Out Traditional Folk

Traditional (Roud 3479)

This old song has been described as dating back to the days of the famine (1840?s), when any bit of property at all was enough to tempt a man to jilt his true love in favour of the lassie with the land.

As I Roved Out (Traditional)

As I roved out, on a bright May morning,
To view the meadows and flowers gay
Whom should I spy but my own true lover
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,
It's that I'll rue 'til the day I die
When misfortune falls, sure no man can shun it
I was a blind fool, I'll ne'er 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 'tis 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.