Roving

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:32 pm

In listening to Irish music, many of the songs have 'roving' as a theme. As an American I have an idea of what I think roving means, but I'm really curious about the concept of roving, what the word means versus the dictonary definition, and also the place of roving in the culture. I suspect that roving is more than an action but may be a state of mind, or a philosophy, or may imply characer traits for it's practitioners. I don't know--I'm only guessing.

Anyway, what say you Irishmen and students of the culture?

dubhlinn · Post by **dubhlinn** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:45 pm

To Rove..is to travel and be a beggarman.

http://celtic-lyrics.com/forum/index.ph ... ics&id=406

Bit like a Tramp...or maybe a way of life that is still noble today but regarded as.... well.

There are many do it today...

There will always be Rovers...

Hope that helps,

Slan,
D.

buddhu · Post by **buddhu** » Sat May 17, 2008 6:24 pm

Nah, Dubh's winding you up.

Roving really means playing golf. As in:

"I've been a wild rover for many's the year..." = "I used to play golf for years, but now I'm getting better."

or

"I'm a rover, seldom sober..." = "I'm a golfer, and an alcoholic too. Two helpings of bad luck..., Oy vey..."

dubhlinn · Post by **dubhlinn** » Sat May 17, 2008 6:36 pm

buddhu wrote:Nah, Dubh's winding you up.

Roving really means playing golf. As in:

"I've been a wild rover for many's the year..." = "I used to play golf for years, but now I'm getting better."

or

"I'm a rover, seldom sober..." = "I'm a golfer, and an alcoholic too. Two helpings of bad luck..., Oy vey..."

One more joint, two more Jemmys..and a round of Golf.

Spiffing..

BTW....

I think I'm falling in love that Alicia Keys bird...hic.

Slan,
D.

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Sat May 17, 2008 7:06 pm

So there's a bit of romantic quality involved in roving.

dubhlinn · Post by **dubhlinn** » Sat May 17, 2008 7:25 pm

FJohnSharp wrote:So there's a bit of romantic quality involved in roving.

More of a roving around through the romantics,

So to speak.

Slan,
D.

djm · Post by **djm** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:44 pm

And screaming and yelling, and jumping up and down to an electronic beat, and .... Oh, wait, I'm raving!

djm

dwest · Post by **dwest** » Sun May 18, 2008 6:18 am

Roving: bundle of loose fibers used in spinning and weaving as in; the Tannahill Weavers go a roving

tansy · Post by **tansy** » Sun May 18, 2008 8:30 am

I am a rover and always have been. I think you are born a rover, it's in your "jeans".

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Sun May 18, 2008 10:42 am

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought that you were talking about wool roving...the fluffy stuff that still needs to be spun into wool yarn. The way my mind works sometimes....

Lambchop · Post by **Lambchop** » Sun May 18, 2008 10:56 am

izzarina wrote:When I saw the title of this thread, I thought that you were talking about wool roving...the fluffy stuff that still needs to be spun into wool yarn. The way my mind works sometimes....

I thought that, too. Fine minds think alike.

There may be a connection. Wool roving is a thick rope of loose fibers that gets piled . . . around and around . . . before use. And it goes around and around as it gets spun into yarn.

Rovers roam hither and yon, roving is piled and twists around . . .

I'm wondering if the terms have a relationship based on that? Waaaay back when spinning wool was familiar to everyone?

I'd like to think so!

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Sun May 18, 2008 10:57 am

It means going for long aimless walks, possibly with a dog. Dogs that accompany people on such walks get called "Rover".

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Sun May 18, 2008 11:10 am

Lambchop wrote:
izzarina wrote:When I saw the title of this thread, I thought that you were talking about wool roving...the fluffy stuff that still needs to be spun into wool yarn. The way my mind works sometimes....
I thought that, too. Fine minds think alike.

It's nice to see I'm not the only one who thought that way!

There may be a connection. Wool roving is a thick rope of loose fibers that gets piled . . . around and around . . . before use. And it goes around and around as it gets spun into yarn.

Rovers roam hither and yon, roving is piled and twists around . . .

I'm wondering if the terms have a relationship based on that? Waaaay back when spinning wool was familiar to everyone?

I'd like to think so!

This is actually very interesting, and I wonder if there really is a connection! It would make sense. Hmmm...it might be something worth looking into.

mutepointe · Post by **mutepointe** » Sun May 18, 2008 11:17 am

Roving, to me, has to do with how far from home you are and how soon you'll be going back home. Roving is also relative. A child could rove for an afternoon outside of a view of home. An adult would need to be out of reach of a meal or bed with no vialble alternative in sight.

Even though Magic Sailor is traveling all over the place, he's on a boat and I don't think that counts. He has his bed and kitchen with him. Maybe there is another word for that.

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Sun May 18, 2008 12:26 pm

It's just like Waltzing Matilda, I'll bet!