I am a Rover- William Cousins (Som) 1906 Gardiner
[From George Gardiner Manuscript Collection (GG/1/4/147)
R. Matteson 2017]
I am a Rover- sung by William W. Cousins of Bath, Somerset in Jan- Feb, 1906
1. I am a rover, and that's well known,
I'm just now going to leave my home;
Leave my home and my friends to mourn,
Fare ye well, my bonny girl, till I return.
2. As I crossed over Derry Down Moor,
There I lost sight of my true love's door;
My heart did ache, and my eyes went blind,
Thinking of the bonny girl I left behind.
3. She sat me down to write a song[1],
I wrote it wide and I wrote it long;
At every line oh! I shed a tear,
At every verse, I cried, Polly dear!
4 She drew a chair, and bid me sit down,
Then she told me her heart was won;
She turned her head when I took leaf [leave],
Saying, very [fare ye] well, bonny girl, do not grieve.
5. I wished, I wished, but it's all in vain,
I wish I wish I was a maid again;
A maid again I never shall be,
Till the apples grow on an orange tree.
1. I sat down to write a song (1st person)