Songs

The Roving Dingle Boy

by Ernest John Moeran

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Text

The Roving Dingle Boy
English source: Traditional folk song

From the Dingle Bay he sailed away
All in the month of May
His true love she stood waving
While waiting on the quay
His true love she stood waving
So bitterly she cried
Said "He's gone and God be with him
He's my roving Dingle boy."

Then the sails were hoist and the flag was flown
And the ship began to move
Just as the anchor it was clear
She cried these words I prove:
"A maid, a maid, I'll always stay
Until the day I die,
For there is no other one for me
But my roving Dingle boy."

Now he'd gone away past six months clear
When a letter he sent home
Enquiring all about his friends
And the girl he left alone
He sent her home the passage paid
To comfort all her joy
And she's now in Philadelphia
With her roving Dingle boy.

Come all you maids and maidens fair
The warning take mine here
Never slight your own true love
When he is on the sea
Be sure to him, prove constant
And he's bound to crown your joy
And carry you towards the city
Like my roving Dingle boy.

Composer

Ernest John Moeran

Ernest John Smeed Moeran was an English composer of part-Irish heritage. His work was strongly influenced by English and Irish folk music.

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