Tune of the Day: The Wild Rover
“The Wild Rover” is one of the the most widely performed Irish song ever, and yet its exact origins are unknown. In fact, it may not even be Irish. According to some scholars, the song has its origins in Scotland or England, and was originally written as a temperance song. Today, however, “The Wild Rover” is usually considered to be a drinking song, and a staple for artists performing live music in Irish pubs.
The song has been popular since at least the early 19th century, and made a storming comeback in the folk revival in the 1960s. Today, the chorus is sung by football fans throughout England, usually with the words adapted to suit the team in question, and is generally well known throughout the English-speaking world, even among people who have no knowledge of the rest of the song.