I'm A Rover, Seldom Sober

"I'm A Rover, Seldom Sober" lyrics traditional

Performed by Marc Gunn
From: Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion

* 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 as dark as dungeon,
not a star can be seen above
I will be guided without a stumble,
into the arms of my own true love

He stepped up to her bedroom window,
kneeling gently upon a stone
He whispers through her bedroom window,
my darling dear do you lie alone

It's only me your own true lover,
open the door and let me in
For I have come on a long nights journey
and I'm near drenched to the skin

She opened the door with the greatest pleasure,
she opened the door and she let him in
They both shook hands and embraced each other,
until the morning they lay as one

Says I: My love I must go and leave you,
to climb the hills they are far above
But I will climb with the greatest pleasure,
since I've been in the arms of my love

Chords: KEY G

[G]I'm a rover, [C]seldom [G]sober,
I'm a rover of high deg-[D]ree
It's when I'm [G]drinking, I'm always thinking
how to gain my love's [D]compa-[G]ny

[G]Though the night be as dark as [C]dun[[G]geon,
not a star can be [C]seen [D]above
I will be [G]guided without a [C]stum-[G]ble,
into the arms of my [D]own true [G]love

 

Background

The "Mingulay Boat Song" is a song written by Sir Hugh S. Roberton in the 1930s. The melody is described in Roberton's Songs of the Isles as a traditional Gaelic tune, probably titled "Lochaber". The song describes fishermen sailing homeward to the isle of Mingulay where their families wait.

 

I'm a Rover, Seldom Sober Videos

from Celtic Invasion of Scotland 2018 train trip to Inverness