Four excellent new songs (1)/The Scots Rover

The Scots Rover.

I AM a Rover brisk and bold,
⁠the truth I really tell to you,
No Daniel Brand of Irish birth,
⁠could e'er compare with Jackie Frue.
⁠⁠Lalta la, turel, larel.
⁠⁠Lalta, larel, turel-lu.

Euphanus fair did me beguile,
⁠the first that drew me in love's snare;
That wicked lass to me prov'd false,
⁠set me a roving ever mair.

Then for a soldier I did list,
⁠my roving fancy to pursue,
And every town that we came to,
⁠I always got a sweetheart new.

At Carlile town and Cumberland,
⁠the lasses there were very kind;
For shirts and stockings I did court,
⁠but left the Heckler's lass behind.

At Kendal next, upon the road,
⁠our lodging was at the Black Bull,
Where Nancy rare, a blooming fair,
⁠her watch and gold was at my will.

At Lancaster where we put up,
⁠we had the prettiest Wench in town,
I felt her tuft, her mistress hufft,
⁠was highly jealous at the same.

She says, you are a workman brisk,
⁠your musick it well pleaseth me ;
My lovely Scot come do your work,
⁠five guineas it shall be your fee.

At Coventry these girls so free,
⁠to this young Rover was most kind,
A lovely creature drest in silks,
⁠paid him two guineas for each time.

At Greenwich we a while did stay,
⁠these girls dearly love the game;
With liquors good they chear’d my blood,
⁠so merr’ly as I pass’d my time.

At Portsmouth where we went abroad,
⁠the sailor’s wives were very free,
For when their husbands went to sea,
⁠they came and spent their gold with me.

With the girls of France sometimes I danc’d,
⁠who treate’d me well with brandy wine,
I did their work, they paid me for’t;
⁠their gold did make my pockets shine.

The Yankie girls are very fly,
⁠they’ll hardly speak while sun does shine,
But in the dark, and out of sight,
⁠most lovingly they’ll round you twine.

But now at last the peace comes on,
⁠I am discharged, and sent home;
Provision’s dear, and money’s scarce,
⁠I fear my roving's at an end.

go to church as grave’s a judge,
⁠where many an honest wife I see,
Sit smiling by their husbands side,
⁠who once has made as free with me.

Now with some blooming fair I’ll wed,
⁠who has wit and beauty in great store;
If she proves kind to please my mind,
⁠I’ll never be a rover more.
⁠⁠Lalta, la, tuvel, larel, &c.