As I Roved Out
Love Betrayed: A Tale of Broken Vows and Regret
Lyrics
As I roved out one bright May morning
Embarking on a journey on a bright May morning
To view the purple heather and flowers gay
Observing the vibrant heather and cheerful flowers
Who should I spy but my own true lover
Spotting the speaker's true lover under a willow tree
As she sat under yon willow tree
Describing the location of the true lover
I took off my hat and I did salute her
Greeting the lover by saluting courageously
I did salute her most courageously
Expressing a respectful salute
When she turned around and the tears fell from her eyes
Lover turns around, tears fall, accusing the speaker of deception
Saying, "False young man, you have deluded me"
Accusation of misleading and betrayal
Three diamond rings for love I gave you
Gifted three diamond rings as a token of love
Three diamond rings to wear on your right hand
Describing the rings given to wear on the lover's right hand
But the vows you made, love, you went and broke them
Accusing the lover of breaking vows and marrying another
And married the lassie that had the land
Marriage to a woman with land
If I married the lassie that had the land, my love
Expressing regret for marrying the woman with land
'Tis that I'll rue until the day I die
Regret that will last until death
But when fortune calls few men can shun it
Unable to avoid fortune's call and feeling foolish
I was a blind fool was I
Regret for being blind to the situation
Now at night when I go to my bed of slumber
Nighttime thoughts filled with true love
The thoughts of my true love run in my mind
Discovering deception when trying to embrace the lover
When I turned around to embrace my darling
Finding brass instead of gold
Instead of gold 'tis brass I find
And I wish the Queen would call home her armies
Desire for the return of armies from distant places
From the West Indies, America and Spain
Hoping for a reunion with the true love
And every man to his homeland would run
And I in hope that we'd meet again
Repeating the initial scene of roving out in May
As I roved out one bright May morning
To view the purple heather and flowers gay
Observing nature once more, reflecting on past events
Who should I spy but my own true lover
Rediscovering the true lover under the willow tree
As she sat under yon willow tree
Revisiting the scene from the beginning
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