Willie O'Reilly

transcribed at

Willie O'Reilly  [duchas:5157472]

Willie O’Reilly

As I roamed out one evening oh,
Down by a river side, I heard a maid complaining you know.
The tears rolled from her eye, saying this is a cold and stormy night, those words to me did say.

Willie O'Reilly  [duchas:5157473]

My love lies on the raging sea bound for a America.
My love he is a fisherman and his age is scarce eighteen.
He is as nice a fellow you know as ever your eye could see.
My father has riches you know, 
Great O’Reilly he is poor, because I loved the fisherman, they could not me endure.
John O’Reilly is my true loves name and lives near the town of Bray.
My mama took me by the hand,
Those words to me dis say. If you be fond of O’Reilly, let him quit this country.
Your father says he will have his life or shun his company.
O ‘mother dear, don’t be severe, where shall I send my love.
My heart lies on his breast as

Willie O'Reilly  [duchas:5157474]

constant as a dove.
O‘ Daughter dear, I’m not severe, hear is a thousand pounds.
Send O’Reilly to America and purchase there some ground.
When she got the money to Reilly she did run. Here is a thousand pounds in gold my mama sent to you.
So sail away to America and I will follow you.
When O’Reilly got the money you know next day he sailed away. And when he put his foot on board
Those words to her did say, Here is a token of my love and break it into two.
And have this heart and have this ring until I find out you.
O’Reilly, he came back again for to take his love away.
The ship got wrecked, her hands got lost, and the father grieved

Willie O'Reilly  [duchas:5157475]

with sore.
There was a letter in her breast and it wrote with blood saying, 
cruel was the father that thought to shoot my love.
Let this be a warning you know to all fair maids so gay.
Never let the lad you love sail to America.

Nellie Duggan
Information by:- Kitty Glynn, Annagh, Inagh.