The Roving Kind

The Weavers

About The Roving Kind

The Roving Kind was a popular song adapted in 1950 from a British folksong "The Pirate Ship" by "Jessie Cavanaugh" and "Arnold Stanton" (both names are pseudonyms used by music publisher The Richmond Organisation). The song is about a girl who is nice but a wanderer. The best-known version was recorded by Guy Mitchell in 1950, in which it reached #4 on Billboard in December 1950. The song also reached #6 on the Cashbox charts in December 1950. The song had first been recorded by the American folk group, The Weavers. Mitchell's jocular version followed the original sea-shanty style. Mitch Miller followed this "folk-origin" formula for most of Mitchell's subsequent hits. 


Year:
2014
2:45
57 
#1

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As I cruised out one evening upon a night's career
I spied a lofty clipper ship and to her I did steer
I heisted out my signals which she so quickly knew
And when she saw my bunting fly she immediately hove to-woo-woo

She had a dark and rovin' eye, and her hair hung down in ringlets
She was a nice girl, a proper girl but one of the rovin' kind

Oh pardon me, she says to me, for being out so late
But if my parents heard of this all sad would be my fate
My father is in politics, a good and righteous man
My mother is an acrobat, I do the best I can

She had a dark and rovin' eye, and her hair hung down in ringlets
She was a nice girl, a proper girl but one of the rovin' kind

I took her for some fish and chips and treated her so fine
And hardly did I realize she was the rovin' kind
I kissed her lips, I missed her lips and found to my surprise
She was nothin' but a pirate ship rigged up in a disguise

She had a dark and rovin' eye, and her hair hung down in ringlets
She was a nice girl, a proper girl but one of the rovin' kind

So, come all you good sailor men who sail the wintry sea
And come, all you apprentice lads, a warnin' take from me
Beware of lofty clipper ships, they'll be the ruin of you
For 'twas there she made me walk the plank and pushed me under, too

She had a dark and rovin' eye-uh-eye and her hair hung down in ringlets
She was a nice girl, a proper girl but one of the rovin' kind

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The Weavers

The Weavers were an American folk music quartet based in the Greenwich Village area of New York City. They sang traditional folk songs from around the world, as well as blues, gospel music, children's songs, labor songs, and American ballads, and sold millions of records at the height of their popularity. Their hard-driving string-band style inspired the commercial "folk boom" that followed them in the 1950s and 1960s, including such performing groups as The Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul, and Mary. more »

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Written by: ARNOLD STANTON, JESSIE CAVANAUGH

Lyrics © T.R.O. INC.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Release Information
"The Roving Kind" is a song recorded by American musician and actor Guy Mitchell, music producer Mitch Miller, and American folk music group The Weavers.
Popularity
The song was highly popular, and it peaked at number 4 on Billboard's chart in 1950.
Songwriter
The track was written by Jesse Cavanaugh and Arnold Stanton.
Chart History
Besides its success in the United States, "The Roving Kind" also reached number 7 in the UK charts.
Record Label
"The Roving Kind" was released on the Columbia Records label, a major recording company headquartered in New York City.
Original Version
The original version of "The Roving Kind" was recorded by The Weavers in 1949, one year before Guy Mitchell's version.
Type of Song
It is considered a traditional pop music song and features a laid-back and catchy melody.
Contribution of Mitch Miller
Apart from being a conductor and record producer, Mitch Miller also played the English horn and the oboe for the recording.
Cover Version
In addition to Guy Mitchell's, the song has been covered by other artists, including English singer Max Bygraves in the UK.
Historical Context
"The Roving Kind" is a part of the 1950s music era, characterized by a shift from big band music to more simple and melodic pop and rock 'n' roll.
Story in the Song
The song tells a story about a roving woman who is moving from town to town; hence the name "The Roving Kind."
Guy Mitchell
Prior to his success with "The Roving Kind," Mitchell had already had a number one hit, "My Heart Cries for You," also in 1950.

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