I av been a wyld roaver fer menee a ear.
I spent oll me monee en weskee an beer.
But now Im resolvd t’do soa noa mooer.
I niver well plae tha wyld roaver na mooer!

An it’s noa nay niver, niver na mooer,
I niver well plae tha wyld roaver na mooer.

I wint to an ayl ows wer I usd t’ frequint;
I told tha Lanlaadee me monee woz oll spint.
I caald fer a pot an she anserd me
“Nay, I’v plintee a customers like ee evree day.”

I put me and en me pokut soa maanlee an bold
An owt oan tha taebel I put tummals a gold.
“Stoap, stoap!” saed she, “Et woz oll en a jest
Fer I av got weskee an jin a tha best.”

 
 
 

Long before an up-tempo version was popularised by The Dubliners folk group in the 1960s this gentler tune was collected by Arthur Mata of St Breock, William Richard, then aged 81. These days you find it beautifully sung by Jim Bassett of Padstow, who heard it from both his father (in Looe) and from Cyril Tawney. Jim’s lyric is slightly different, e.g. in the chorus he sings ‘now ur never’ in his rather more East Conwall accent.

Though recorded in Standard English this song is, inevitably, a favourite with Dialect singers.

 

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