A-Roving

Traditional

   D        A7         D
In Plymouth Town there lived a maid,
     A7               D
     Bless you, young women.
   D        A7         D
In Plymouth Town there lived a maid,
     A7 (D)             A7
     Oh, mind what I do say.
   G                   D
In Plymouth Town there lived a maid,
    A7               D
And she was mistress of her trade.
                     G        D    A7   D
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.


Chorus (after every verse):

       G         D
     A-roving, a-roving,
           A7               D
     Since roving's been my ru-i-en
                          G        D    A7   D
     I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.


The past six months I'd been to sea,
     Bless you, young women.
The past six months I'd been to sea,
     Oh, mind what I do say.
The past six months I'd been to sea,
And, boys, this maid looked good to me.
I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
[Continue in this pattern]

Her cheeks were like the roses red,
And her eyes were like twin stars at night.

I met her walking on the strand,
I said, "Ahoy" and took her hand.

She said, "Young man, you're rather free,"
And then turned around and walked with me.

I took this fair maid for a walk,
And we had such a lovin' talk.

And didn't I tell her stories, too,
Of the gold we found in Timbuktu.

She swore that she'd be true to me,
But she spent my pay so fast and free.

And scarce had I been gone to sea,
When a soldier took her on his knee.


This was a favorite street tune in 17th century England before
becoming one of the oldest capstan shanties.