Irish traditional song lyrics — collected by Beer Belly Band.
I am a rovin’ journeyman I roam from town to town
And whenever I get a job of work I’m willing to sit doon
My kit’s all on my shoulder and my graftin’ tool in hand
And around the country I will go a rovin’ journeyman
Whenever I come tae Glasgow toon the lassies jump for joy
Say one unto the other “Well here comes a rovin’ boy”
Some treat me to a bottle and the others to a dram
And the toast goes round the table “Health unto the journeyman”
Chorus:
Wi’ yer linten addie, toorin’ addie linten addie
Tooral linten addie tooral linten addie aye
Pots and pans and helping hands will see you thru the day
Gie a penny to the journeyman tae help him on his way
I hadnae been in Glasgow toon a week but barely three
Before the provost’s daughter went and fell in love wi’ me
She asked me for to dine wi’ her and took me by the hand
And she proudly told her mother that she loved the journeyman
Ach! away ye go ye sill maid, I’ll hear ye speak no more
How can ye love a journeyman ye’ve never seen before?
Mother sweet i do entreat I love him all I can
And around the country I will go tae see my journeyman
Chorus
Ye’ll need nae mair tae trudge on foot ye’ll hae a horse and pair
My wealth with thee and poverty contented I will share
So overflow the flowing bowl and drain it if ye can
Toast the provost’s daughter and the roving journeyman
I am a rovin’ journeyman I roam from town to town
And whenever I get a job of work I’m willing to sit doon
My kit’s all on my shoulder and my graftin’ tool in hand
And around the country I will go a rovin’ journeyman
Chorus