Lyrics

As I roved out one evening down by the riverside
I heard a maid lamenting and bitterly she cried
This was a dark and stormy night these words to me did say
My true love’s on the raging sea bound for Americay

John Reilly was her true loves name lived near the town of Bray
He was as clever a young man as ever your eyes did see
My father he had riches great and Reilly he was poor
Because I loved that sailor lad they couldn’t me endure

My mother took me by the hand and these words to me did say
If you be fond of Reilly he must leave this country
For your father swears he’ll have his life so shun his company

Oh mother dear don’t be severe where will I send my love
My very heart lies in his breast and constant as a dove
Its daughter dear I’m not severe here is one hundred pound
Send Reilly to Americay and purchase there some ground

When she got the money to Reilly she did run
This very night to take your life my father’s charged a gun
Here is a hundred pounds in gold my mother sent to you
And sail you to Americay and I will follow you

When he got the money next morning sailed away
And as he put his foot on board these words to me did say
Here is a true-loves token and I’ll break it now in two
You can have my heart and half this ring till I find you

It was in three months after she was standing on the quay
When Reilly he came back again to take his love away
The ship was wrecked all hands were lost her father wept full sore
He got Reilly in his true-love’s arms lying drowned on the shore

And in her breast a letter he got and it was wrote with blood
Saying cruel was my father who tried to shoot my love
Let this now be a warning to all fair maids so gay
To never let their true-love sail to Americay

see also   John Reilly the fisherman / Cathal O'Neill   John Reilly the fisherman / Jimmy Houten