A Rovin'
(Or Maid of Amsterdam)
Capstan or Pump Shanty
Traditional


SHANTY SINGERS AND BALLADEERS
We're singing this in E
In Amsterdam there lived a maid, 
Mark well what I do say! 
In Amsterdam there lived a maid, 
An' she wuz mistress of her trade, 
I'll go no more a-ro-o-vin' with you fair maid. 

Chorus:  
A-rovin', a-rovin', 
Since rovin's bin my ru-i-in, 
We'll go no more a-rovin', 
With you fair maid. 

One night I crept from my abode, 
Mark well what I do say! 
One night I crept from my abode, 
To meet this fair maid down the road. 
I'll go no more a-ro-o-vin' with you fair maid. (Chorus)

I met this fair maid after dark, 
Mark well what I do say! 
I met this fair maid after dark, 
An' took her to her favorite park. 
I'll go no more a-ro-o-vin' with you fair maid. (Chorus)

I took this fair maid for a walk, 
Mark well what I do say! 
I took this fair maid for a walk, 
An' we had such a lovely talk.
I'll go no more a-ro-o-vin' with you fair maid. (Chorus)

I put me arm around her waist, 
Mark well what I do say! 
I put me arm around her waist, 
She says, "Young man, yer in great haste!" 
I'll go no more a-ro-o-vin' with you fair maid. (Chorus)

I put me hand upon her knee, 
Mark well what I do say! 
I put me hand upon her knee, 
She says, "Young man, get back to sea!" 
I'll go no more a-ro-o-vin' with you fair maid. (Chorus)

Some scholars attribute the origins of Maid of Amsterdam to Thomas Heywood's Rape of Lucrece (1640).

The version compiled by Stan Hugill had so many verses it could go on for days!  I shortened the verses to accommodate the size of our group and put in a definitive closing line.  — Dean Calin