Rambling Rover

By Andy Stewart
From a "Silly Wizard" Album

CHORUS: O there's sober men in plenty, and drunkards barely twenty
There are men of over ninety who have never yet kissed a girl.
But gie me a ramblin' rover,and from Orkney down to Dover
We will roam the country over and together will face the world!

O there's many that feign enjoyment for merciless employment
Their ambition was this deployment since the minute they left the school
They save and scrape and ponder while the rest go out and squander
See the world, and rove and wander, and they're happier as a rule. (CH)

I've roamed through all the nations, ta'en delight in all creation
And I've tried a wee sensation where the company did prove kind
And when parting was no pleasure, I've drunk another measure
To the good friends that we treasure for they always are in our minds.(CH)

For the lassies young and sprightly, them I courted nightly
Where stayin' wasn't likely, for I ramble up and down;
'Cause life it would be hearty, I'd dance at every party,
Meet ramblin' Dan McCarthy and we'll all go on the town.(CH)

So when troubles do befall me, to the high road I do haul me
Ramblin' Johnny's what you call me, 'tis me blessing and me bane.
Though my comrades have been many, I'll take a drink with any
'Til I've spent me last wee penny, and life I'll not see again. (CH)

If you've bent with arth-er-itis, your bowels have got colitis
You have gallopin' bollockitis and your thinkin' it's time you died
You've been a man of action tho you're lying there in traction
You may gain some satisfaction sayin' "Jaysus, at least I tried!" (CH)