1.
G C
I’ve  been  a wild rover for many’s the  year 
G C D G
and I’ve  spent  all my  mon ey on  whis key and  beer. 
G C
But  now  I’m returning with gold in great  store 
G C D G
and I  never  will  play  the wild  rov er no  more.  
chorus
D D 
And it’s  no,  nay, never, 
G  C
no, nay, never, no  more 
G C
will I  play  the wild  rov er. 
G D G
No,  never,  no  more.  
2.
I went into an alehouse I used to frequent
and I told the landlady my money was spent.
I asked her for credit, she answered me: “Nay,
such a custom’ like yours I can have any day.”
chorus
3.
I took from my pocket ten sovereigns bright
and the landlady’s eyes opened wide with delight.
She said I’d have whiskey and wines of the best
and the words that she told me were only in jest.
Alternatively:
I took from my pocket a handful of gold
and on the round table it glittered and rolled.
When the landlady smiled, she served me the best.
“What I told you before, sure it was only in jest.”
chorus
4.
I’ll go home to my parents, confess what I’ve done,
and I’ll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.
And when they’ve caressed me as oft’ times before
then I never will play the wild rover no more.
chorus