I've Been a Gay Rovin' Young Fellow I've been a gay rovin' young fellow I've been at it now all me life I'm a ramblin' and rovin' forever In every port a new wife But give me a girl that will love me And bless me in this happy life Now dance unto me a fresh caper A country girl makes a good wife I've travelled though cold frosty weather I've travelled through love hot and cold I have ventured my life on the ocean 'Tis all for the sake of some gold But now I've returned from the ocean And landed safe home on the shore Now blow me and bless me forever If I goes to sea anymore I'll send for me friends and relations I'll send them every one And all for to make them quite welcome I'll send for a cask of good rum Yes, I'll send for a cask of good rum, boys And two or three barrels of beer They're all for the welcome the lassie That greets me at Derry Down fair Now when I am dead and I'm buried Sure, that puts and end to me life Now don't you go sobbing and sighing But do a good turn for me wife No, don't you go sobbing and sighing There's one single thing more do I crave Wrap me up in me tarpaulin jacket Come fiddle and dance on my grave Get six jolly sailors to carry me Let them get most damnable drunk And they will run sporting and drinking As down they will fall with my trunk Yes, let them run cursing and swearing Like fellows most damnable mad They will tip their glass over my coffin Saying "there goes a true-hearted lad" traditional Newfoundland as sung by Jim Payne From the collection of Andrew Draskoy AJS apr97
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!