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Spencer the Rover

[ Roud 1115 ; Ballad Index K331 ; trad.]

Spencer the Rover is one of the best-known songs in the repertoire of the Copper Family. Bob Copper collected it in about 1954 from Jim Barrett, at the Fox in North Waltham, Hants, and printed this version in his book Songs and Southern Breezes. Bob, Ron, Jill and John Copper sang it in 1974 on their 4 LP set A Song for Every Season; this track was also included on the 3 CD anthology New Electric Muse. Bob, John and Jill Copper and Jon Dudley sang it on the CD Coppersongs 3: The Legacy Continues. The latter recording is also on The Folk Awards 2001. The Copper Family also sang this song on September 27, 1986 live at Will's Barn in Denby Dale, Yorkshire.

Shirley Collins sang Spencer the Rover on her 1967 album The Sweet Primeroses, accompanied by her sister Dolly Collins on her flute-organ. She commented in the album's sleeve notes:

This song could be the synopsis for a very considerable 19th century epic novel. I imagine Spencer with ruddy cheeks, black sideburns and leather gaiters. The unsurpassed domestic bliss in the last chapter fadeout has everyone beaming happily. The lines of the verse are very long, and I appreciate the sound sense of Bob and Ron Copper of Sussex in sharing the third line out between the two of them. Dolly's counter-melody is not in any way counter to the spirit of the song.

Peter Bellamy and Louis Killen sang Spencer the Rover live at the Folk Studio, Norwich, on June 22, 1971. This concert was issued on their LP Won't You Go My Way?.

Muckram Wakes (John Tams and Roger and Helen Watson) recorded Spencer the Rover in 1973 for the first track of their first album, A Map of Derbyshire.

Robin Dransfield sang Spencer the Rover in 1980 on his album Tidewave which was reissued in 2008 as half of the CD A Lighter Touch. He commented:

Spencer the Rover, from my native Yorkshire has been one of my favourite English songs since I discovered the tradition, nearly twenty years ago. It has long been my ambition to sing it with a brass band—a bit tricky—but Bob White, who wrote the arrangement, and Chris Stearn made it all possible.

An Albion Dance Band recording of Spencer the Rover from 1988 with Polly Bolton singing lead can be found on The Guv'nor Vol. 3.

Jon Boden and Fay Hield sang Spencer the Rover as the November 4, 2010 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day.

Lyrics

Jim Barrett sings Spencer the Rover

This song was composed by Spencer the Rover,
Who'd travelled most parts of Great Britain and Wales,
There had been much reducing which caused great confusion,
And that was the reason a-rambling I went.

In Yorkshire near Rotherham still being on my rambles,
Being weary of travelling I sat down to rest,
At the foot of the mountain there sprung a clear fountain
Of pleasant cool water myself to refresh.

It tasted more sweeter than the food I had wasted,
More sweeter than honey and gave more content,
But the thoughts of my children lamenting for their father
Brought tears to my eyes and caused me to repent.

Now the night fast approaching, to the woods I departed,
With woodbine and ivy my bed for to make,
I heard a bird sighing, lamenting and crying,
Come home to your family and rambling forsake.

On the fifth of November I've a reason to remember
'Twas then I first returned to my family and wife,
They looked so surprising to see me arriving,
To see such a stranger once more in their sight.

Then me children came round me with their pretty, prattling stories,
With their pretty, prattling stories which drove dull care away,
So we will unite together like birds of a feather,
Like bees in one hive so contented we'll stay.

So now I am placed in my cottage contented
With woodbine and roses climbing all round the door,
I am happy as those that's got plenty of riches,
Contented I'll stay and go rambling no more.

Shirley Collins sings Spencer the Rover

These words were composed by Spencer the Rover
Who travelled Great Britain and most parts of Wales.
He had been so reduced which caused great confusion
And that was the reason he went on the roam.

In Yorkshire near Rotherham he had been on his rambles,
Being weary of travel, he sat down to rest.
At the foot of yonder mountain there runs a clear fountain;
With bread and cold water himself did refresh.

It tasted more sweeter than the gold he had wasted,
More sweeter than honey and gave more content.
But the thoughts of his babies lamenting their father
Brought tears to his eyes and made him repent.

Now the night fast approaching to the woods he resorted,
With ivy and woodbine his bed for to make.
Where he dreamt about sighing, lamenting and crying,
Go home to your family and rambling forsake.

On the fifth day of November I've a reason to remember,
When first he arrived home to his family and wife.
They stood so surprised when first he arrived
To see such a stranger once more in their sight.

His children came around him with their prittle-prattling stories,
With their prittle-prattling stories to drive care away.
And now they're united like birds of one feather,
Like bees in one hive contented they'll be.

So now he is a-living in his cottage so contented,
With ivy and roses growing all around the door.
He's as happy as those that's got thousands of riches;
Contented he'll be and go rambling no more.

The Copper Family sing Spencer the Rover on Coppersongs 3

These words were composed by Spencer the Rover
Who had travelled Great Britain and most parts of Wales.
He had been so reduced which caused great confusion
And that was the reason he went on the roam.

In Yorkshire near Rotherham he had been on his rambles,
Being weary of travelling he sat down to rest.
At the foot of yonder mountain there runs a clear fountain;
With bread and cold water he himself did refresh.

It tasted more sweeter than the gold he had wasted,
More sweeter than honey and gave more content.
But the thoughts of his babies lamenting their father
Brought tears to his eyes and caused him to lament.

The night fast approaching to the woods he resorted,
With woodbine and ivy his bed for to make.
There he dreamt about sighing lamenting and crying,
To home to your family and rambling forsake.

On the fifth of November I've a reason to remember,
When first he arrived home to his family and wife.
They stood so surprised when first he arrived
To see such a stranger once more in their sight.

His children came around him with their prittle-prattling stories,
With their prittle-prattling stories to drive care away.
Now they are united like birds of one feather,
Like bees in one hive contented they'll stay.

So now he is a-living in his cottage contented,
With woodbine and roses growing all around the door.
He's as happy as those that's got thousands of riches;
Contented he'll stay and go rambling no more.

Jon Boden and Fay Hield sing Spencer the Rover

These words were composed by Spencer the Rover
Who travelled through England and most parts of Wales.
He had been so reduced which caused great confusion
And that was the reason he went on the road.

In Yorkshire near Rotherham he had been on his rambles,
Being weary of travelling, he sat down to rest.
At the foot of yonder mountain there runs a clear fountain;
With bread and cold water himself did refresh.

And it tasted more sweeter than the gold he had wasted,
More sweeter than honey and it gave more content.
But the thoughts of his babies lamenting their father
Brought tears to his eyes and made him lament.

But the night fast approaching to the woods he resorted,
With woodbine and ivy his bed for to make.
He dreamed about sighing, lamenting and crying,
Go home to your family and rambling forsake.

On the fifth day of November I've a reason to remember,
When first he arrived home to his family and wife.
They stood so surprised when first he arrived
To see such a stranger once more in their sight.

And his children they gathered round him with their prittle-prattling stories,
With their prittle-prattling stories to drive care away.
And now they're united like birds of one feather,
Like bees in one hive contented they'll stay.

And now he is living in his cottage contented,
With woodbine and roses growing all around the door.
He's as happy as those that's got thousands of riches;
Contented he'll stay and go rambling no more.

Links

See also the Mudcat Café thread Lyr Req: Spencer the Rover.