The Wild Rover Lyrics And Chords

The wild rover tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA now added. This is most likely a Traditional English Folk Song. The guitar chords are in the keys of D, G, A, E and C Major in the chordpro format. It's  more famous in Ireland than anywhere . Made famous by Luke Kelly + The Dubliners [chords] and The Clancys in Ireland. The music notes are below. The song has been recorded by many bands including André Rieu, The Dropkick Murphys, The Pogues, The High Kings and The Corries to name a few. The ukulele chords are included for the version in the key of G, and the banjo / mandolin chord shapes are in D. The banjo tuning is GDAE, standard Irish tenor.

I've[D] been a wild rover for many a[G] year
And I've[D] spent all me[G] money on [A]whiskey and[D] beer
But[D] now im returning with gold in great[G] store
And I[D] never will[G] play the wild [A]rover no[D] more
[Chorus]
And it's[A] no nay never no[D] nay never no[G] more
Will I[D] play the wild[G] rover,no[A] never no[D] more
[2]
I went into an ale-house 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 can get any day
 
I took from my pocket 10 sovereigns bright
And the landladie's eyes opened wide with delight
She said I have whiskey and wines of the best
And the words that I spoke were only in jest
 
I'll go home to my parents confess what I've done
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son
And when they forgive me as oft times before
Sure I never will play the wild rover no more

Here's the guitar chords in the key of G
I've[G] been a wild rover for many a[C] year
And I've[G] spent all me[C] money on [D]whiskey and[G] beer
But[G] now im returning with gold in great[C] store
And I[G] never will[C] play the wild [D]rover no[G] more

And it's[D] no nay never no[G] nay never no[C] more
Will I[G] play the wild[C] rover,no[D] never no[G] more

Key of A

I've[A] been a wild rover for many a[D] year
And I've[A] spent all me[D] money on [E]whiskey and[A] beer
But[A] now im returning with gold in great[D] store
And I[A] never will[D] play the wild [E]rover no[A] more

And it's[E] no nay never no[A] nay never no[D] more
Will I[A] play the wild[D] rover,no[E] never no[A] more

Key of E

I've[E] been a wild rover for many a[A] year
And I've[E] spent all me[A] money on [B]whiskey and[E] beer
But[E] now im returning with gold in great[A] store
And I[E] never will[A] play the wild [B]rover no[E] more

And it's[B] no nay never no[E] nay never no[A] more
Will I[E] play the wild[A] rover,no[B] never no[E] more

The Wild Rover abc music notes
 
D G A G E D B B A B C
B C D' B D' C A F# D B A G
D G A G E D B B A B C
B C D' B D' C A F# D B A G
 
F# G A A F# D
B B B A B C
B C D' B G F# E
EE D B A G
 
The first four lines are the for the verses, the second four for the chorus. It's not too difficult to figure out by ear anyway.
The Wild Rover Sheet Music And Tin Whistle Notes

List of singers and bands who recorded The Wild Rover.
The Dubliners
The Clancy Brothers
The Pogues
The Dropkick Murphys
The Irish Rovers
The High Kings
André Rieu [ Instrumental Version ]
Brian Flynn as a guitar tutorial
​Blarney Lads
The Corries
Rapalje
Cruachan [ Rock Version ]
Pen of Chaos
​Celtic Collection

​Here's the guitar chords in the key of C
I've[C] been a wild rover for many a[F] year
And I've[C] spent all me[F] money on [G]whiskey and[C] beer
But[C] now im returning with gold in great[F] store
And I[C] never will[F] play the wild [G]rover no[C] more

And it's[G] no nay never no[C] nay never no[F] more
Will I[C] play the wild[F] rover,no[G] never no[C] more


​Here's the guitar chords in the key of G as played by The Dubliners in the video with Sean Cannon doing the singing. The Dropkick Murphys also play the song in this key.
​
I've[G] been a wild rover for [D]many a[C] year
And I've[G] spent all me[D] money on whiskey and[G] beer
But now im returning with gold in great[C] store
And I[CG never will[D] play the wild rover no[G] more

And it's[D] no nay never[CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP [G]no nay never no[C] more
Will I[G] play the wild[C] rover,no[G] nev[D]er no[G] more

​The wild rover tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA

Included below are the banjo / mandolin chords shapes for the key of D. The same chords I'm using in the youtube video.