Jolly Roving Tar is a traditional Newfoundland folk song

Music of Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador is an Atlantic Canadian province with a folk musical heritage based on the Irish, English and Scottish traditions that were brought to its shores centuries ago...

. In its 19th-century version, the song relates the story of Susan, lamenting the wanderings of her beloved "tar

Jack Tar

Jack Tar was a common English term used to refer to seamen of the Merchant or Royal Navy, particularly during the period of the British Empire. Both members of the public, and seafarers themselves, made use of the name in identifying those who went to sea...

", or sailor, William, who is at sea, and deciding to follow him in her father's boat. The title is also applied to the folk song "Get up, Jack! John, sit down!", a reel

Reel (dance)

The reel is a folk dance type as well as the accompanying dance tune type. In Scottish country dancing, the reel is one of the four traditional dances, the others being the jig, the strathspey and the waltz, and is also the name of a dance figure ....

of unknown provenance in which some, but not all, versions includes the line, "Come along, come along, my jolly brave tars, there's lots of grog in the jars."

Lyrics

These are the lyrics of the song as transcribed in 1888 by John Ashton in Modern Street Ballads.

It was in the town of Liverpool, all in the month of May,

I overheard a damsel, alone as she did stray,

She did appear like Venus or some sweet, lovely star,

As she walked toward the beach, lamenting for her jolly, roving Tar.



"Oh, William, gallant William, how can you sail away?

I have arrived at twenty-one, and I'm a lady gay,

I will man one of my father's ships and face the horrid war,

And cross the briny ocean for my jolly, roving Tar.



Young William looked so manly, drest all in his sailor's clothes,

His cheeks they were like roses, his eyes as black as sloes,

His hair hung down in ringlets, but he is gone afar,

And my heart lies in the bosom of my jolly, roving Tar.



Come all you jolly sailors, and push the boat ashore,

That I may see my father's ships and see they are secure,

Provisions we have plenty, and lots of grog in store,

So drink good health you sailors, to my jolly, roving Tar."



She quickly jumped into the boat and merrily left the land,

And as the sailors rowed away, she wav'd her lily hand,

"Farewell, ye girls of Liverpool, I fear no wound nor scar."

And away went pretty Susan to her jolly, roving Tar.