Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads

<p class="tit-song">WILD ROVERS <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page383" name="page383"></SPAN>(p. 383)</span></p> <p>Come all you wild rovers<br/> And listen to me<br/> While I retail to you<br/> My sad history.<br/> I'm a man of experience<br/> Your favors to gain,<br/> Oh, love has been the ruin<br/> Of many a poor man.</p> <p>When you are single<br/> And living at your ease<br/> You can roam this world over<br/> And do as you please;<br/> You can roam this world over<br/> And go where you will<br/> And slyly kiss a pretty girl<br/> And be your own still.</p> <p>But when you are married<br/> And living with your wife,<br/> You've lost all the joys<br/> And comforts of life.<br/> Your wife she will scold you,<br/> Your children will cry,<br/> And <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page384" name="page384"></SPAN>(p. 384)</span> that will make papa<br/> Look withered and dry.</p> <p>You can't step aside, boys,<br/> To speak to a friend<br/> Without your wife at your elbow<br/> Saying, "What does this mean?"<br/> Your wife, she will scold<br/> And there is sad news.<br/> Dear boys, take warning;<br/> 'Tis a life to refuse.</p> <p>If you chance to be riding<br/> Along the highway<br/> And meet a fair maiden,<br/> A lady so gay,<br/> With red, rosy cheeks<br/> And sparkling blue eyes,&mdash;<br/> Oh, heavens! what a tumult<br/> In your bosom will rise!</p> <p>One more request, boys,<br/> Before we must part:<br/> Don't place your affections<br/> On a charming sweetheart;<br/> She'll dance before you<br/> Your favors to gain.<br/> Oh, turn your back on them<br/> With scorn and disdain!</p> <p>Come <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page385" name="page385"></SPAN>(p. 385)</span> close to the bar, boys,<br/> We'll drink all around.<br/> We'll drink to the pure,<br/> If any be found;<br/> We'll drink to the single,<br/> For I wish them success;<br/> Likewise to the married,<br/> For I wish them no less.</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />