It’s St. Patrick’s Day so let’s listen to a good old Irish song, The Wild Rover. The Dubliners turn this into a rousing drinking song and claimed it for the Irish, but this tune has a very different origin. It dates back to the 17th century as an English ballad and if you listen carefully to the lyrics it is a song about temperance, giving up the drink.
A man leaves his home and sets out for the world in pursuit of whiskey and women. Years later, he returns and finds himself in his hometown tavern. The proprietor knows of his reputation and refuses him credit until he reveals the gold he has gathered. He is a changed man and vows to return and ask his parents for forgiveness swearing he will never drink again. Thus, the famous refrain that The Dubliners gave us
“And it’s no, nay, never, no nay never no more, will I play the wild rover no never no more.”
The Dubliners recorded this song in 1964 and many have followed. My favorite version has not been recorded, but Brian McShane sang it like no other.
#Songoftheday #Spreadinghappiness #Dubliners #wildrover #Stpatricsday
YouTube: https://youtu.be/khoLZoSYmiw?si=Inuz9LugVpZCuitI
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1b6Ykc7qnHaVgxMtGxxzDd?si=3a4046f5838540db