{title: The Wild Rover}
{artist: Traditional (Irish / UK)}
{album: First printed mid-19th century; possibly 17th-century Scottish or English origins; standard Irish pub repertoire by the 1950s}
{key: G}
{tempo: 130}
{difficulty: beginner}
{phase: 2}
{strand: R}
{feel: stomp}
{lead_voice: any}
{lead_mode: unison}
{lead_demand: easy}
{harmony: M,H}
{a_cappella: no}
{kit: gtr,bod}
{set_role: opener}
{lang: en}
{country_tags: IE}
{copyright: pd}
{tags: chorus,clap-along,irish,pub,public-domain,shanty,singalong,starter,traditional}

{c: The pub-singalong classic. The "No nay never" chorus with the four claps is universally known across the English-speaking world — every audience joins in within ten seconds. Lyrics describe a returning ne'er-do-well swearing off the wild life. Public domain.}
{c: Four chords (G, C, D, Em). Steady 4/4, around 130 BPM. Lead solo on verses, crew + crowd on chorus + claps.}

{start_of_verse}
I've been a wild [G]rover for many's the [C]year
And I've spent all me [G]money on whiskey and [D]beer
But [G]now I'm returning with [C]gold in great store
And I never will [G]play the wild [D]rover no [G]more
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
And it's [D]no nay never — (CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP) —
[G]No nay never no [Em]more
Will I [G]play the wild [C]rover
[G]No never no [D]more
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
I went to an [G]alehouse I used to [C]frequent
And I [G]told the landlady me money was [D]spent
I [G]asked her for credit, she [C]answered me "Nay
[G]Such a custom as [D]yours I could [G]have any day"
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
And it's [D]no nay never — (CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP) —
[G]No nay never no [Em]more
Will I [G]play the wild [C]rover
[G]No never no [D]more
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
I took from me [G]pocket ten sovereigns [C]bright
And the [G]landlady's eyes opened wide with de[D]light
She [G]said "I have whiskeys and [C]wines of the best
And the [G]words that I told you were [D]only in [G]jest"
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
And it's [D]no nay never — (CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP) —
[G]No nay never no [Em]more
Will I [G]play the wild [C]rover
[G]No never no [D]more
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
I'll go home to my [G]parents, confess what I've [C]done
And I'll [G]ask them to pardon their pro[D]digal son
And [G]if they caress me as [C]oft times be[G]fore
Then I never will [G]play the wild [D]rover no [G]more
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
And it's [D]no nay never — (CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP) —
[G]No nay never no [Em]more
Will I [G]play the wild [C]rover
[G]No never no [D]more
{end_of_chorus}

{c: ===== HOW TO PLAY IT =====}
{c: The four claps on "no nay never" are the entire performance. Build them: silent first chorus claps, full pub-volume by the fourth chorus.}
{c: Tell the audience explicitly the first time the chorus comes around. "Sing 'no nay never,' clap four times, then 'no nay never no more.' Try it once."}
{c: Then commit: the song is unrescuable if the band looks awkward on the claps. Hands up, smile, four crisp claps.}

{c: ===== REFERENCE RECORDINGS =====}
{c: The Dubliners (1965) — the canonical Irish version.}
{c: The Pogues; The Clancy Brothers; The High Kings — all standard takes.}
{c: For a Maritime Canadian take: any number of East Coast bands have recorded it, including Great Big Sea (live).}