As I Roved Out - Chords, Lyrics and Origins

Origins

There are several traditional songs that go by the name, 'As I Roved Out', and this is one of them.  The theme, to put it delicately, is 'inconstant love'...  ...you could put it much less delicately!  A young man charms his way into a a young lady's bed, but when the subject of marriage comes up, his enthusiasm leaves him.  When will they get married?  'When broken shells make Christmas bells'.  Never, in other words!

Chords

Capo at 1st Fret

Am                        G
"Who are you, me pretty fair maid,

Am                         G
Who are you, me honey?

Am                        G
And who are you, me pretty fair maid,

Am                        G
And who are you, me honey?"

Am                                                              G
She answered me right modestly, "Oh I am me mother's darling,


With me

Am              G                          Em                           Am                                        
Too-rie-ah Fol-a-riddle-dar Di-ree fol-a-riddle Dai-rie oh."

Lyrics

"Who are you, me pretty fair maid;
Who are you, me honey?
And who are you, me pretty fair maid,
And who are you, me honey?"
She answered me right modestly, "Oh I am me mother's darling

With me
Too-rie-ah Fol-a-riddle-dar Di-ree fol-a-riddle Dai-rie oh."

"And will you come to me mother's house
When the moon is shining clearly?
And will you come to me mother's house
When the moon is shining clearly?
I'll open the door and I'll let you in
And divil 'o one will hear us,

With me
Too-rie-ah Fol-a-riddle-dar Di-ree fol-a-riddle Dai-rie oh."

So I went to her house in the middle of the night
When the moon was shining clearly;
Oh I went to her house in the middle of the night
When the moon was shining clearly.
She opened the door and she let me in and divil the one did hear us,

With me
Too-rie-ah Fol-a-riddle-dar Di-ree fol-a-riddle Dai-rie oh.

She took me horse by the bridle and the bit
And led him to the stable;
Oh she took me horse by the bridle and the bit
And led him to the stable;
Saying, "There's plenty of oats for a soldier's horse,
To eat them if he's able,

With me
Too-rie-ah Fol-a-riddle-dar Di-ree fol-a-riddle Dai-rie oh."

Then she took me by the lily-white hand,
Led me to the table;
Then she took me by the lily-white hand,
Led me to the table;
Saying, "There's plenty of wine for a soldier boy,
So drink it if you're able,

With me
Too-rie-ah Fol-a-riddle-dar Di-ree fol-a-riddle Dai-rie oh."

Then I got up and I made the bed;
I made it nice and aisy;
Then I got up and I made the bed;
I made it nice and aisy;
The I got up and I laid her down,
Saying ,"Lassie, are you able?

With me
Too-rie-ah Fol-a-riddle-dar Di-ree fol-a-riddle Dai-rie oh."

There we lay till the break of day,
Divil the one did hear us;
And there we lay till the break of day,
And divil the one did hear us;
Then I arose and put on me clothes,
Saying ,"Lassie, I must leave you,

With me
Too-rie-ah Fol-a-riddle-dar Di-ree fol-a-riddle Dai-rie oh."

"When will you return again,
And when will we get married?
Oh and when will you return again,
And when will we get married?"
"When broken shells make Christmas bells,
We might well get married,

With me
Too-rie-ah Fol-a-riddle-dar Di-ree fol-a-riddle Dai-rie oh."