I've been a wild rover for many's the year and I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer
and now I'm returning with gold in great store and I never will play the wild rover no more

Chorus:
And it's no, nay, never no, nay, never!
No more will I play the wild rover no, never, no more

I went into an alehouse I used to frequent and I told the landlady me money was spent I asked her for credit,
she answered me nay such a custom as yours I could have any day

I took from me pocket ten sovereigns bright and the landlady's eyes opened up with delight
she said she had whiskeys and wines of the best and the words that she told me were only in jest

I went home to my parents, confessed what I'd done
and I asked them to pardon their prodigal son
and when they'd caressed me as oft times before I never will play the wild rover no more