A-Roving Lyrics

In Amsterdam there lived a maid
Mark well what I do say
In Amsterdam there lived a maid
And she was mistress of her trade
I'll go no more a-ro-o-ving with you fair maid

A roving, a roving,
Since roving's been my ru-i-in
I'll go no more a-ro-o-ving with you fair maid

I took that fair maid for a walk
Mark well what I do say
I took that fair maid for a walk
And we had such a loving talk
I'll go no more a-ro-o-ving with you fair maid

I put my arm around her waist
Mark well what I do say
I put my arm around her waist
She said, "Young man, you're in great haste!"
I'll go no more a-ro-o-ving with you fair maid

I took that maid upon my knee
Mark well what I do say
I took that maid upon my knee
She said, "Young man, you're rather free!"
I'll go no more a-ro-o-ving with you fair maid

Written as a poem by Lord Byron in 1817 after he tired of the bad boy life. It was turned into a Sea Shanty. It was a pump song and later a capstan song.