Lyrics:

I am a roving journeyman and I rove from town to town,
Wherever I get a job of work I'm willing to set down,
With my kit upon my shoulder and my stick then in my hand
It's down the country I will go, a roving journeyman.

But when I came to Carlow the girls all jumped for joy,
Saying one unto the other, 'Here comes a roving boy;'
One treates me to a bottle, another to a dram,
And the toast goes round the table, 'Here's a health to the journeyman.'

I had not been to Carlow three days, but only three,
When a skinner's lovely daughter she fell in love with me;
She wanted me to marry her, and took me by the hand,
And she slyly told her mother that she loved her journeyman.

'Oh! hold your tongue, you silly girl, why do you dare say so,
How can you love a journeyman you never saw before?'
'Oh! hold your tongue, dear mother, and do the best you can,
For it's down the country I will go with my roving journeyman.'
Then I took my stick into my hand, I took my kit also,
And away from friend and parents a-roving I did go.
There's not a town I go through but I get a new sweetheart,
So girls, if you believe me, I'm sorry from you to part.

So now my loving sweetheart to you I bid adieu,
But if ever I return again I'll surely marry you.
Now let them all be talking and saw the worst they can,
For it's off to Dublin I will go, a roving journeyman.