American Old Time Song Lyrics: 53 Come Back Oriley

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 53

COME BACK, O'RILEY.
Copyright, 1896, by T. B. Harms & Co.
Words by S. M. Brenner. Music by Richard Stahl.

Our club has lost a member, he'd not been with us long;
But while he was among us, he "touched "us good and strong.
When shades of night are falling, his victims all are found
Upon the club piazza, passing sympathy around.
There's Timothy Gilhooly, Dun Murphy and McPhee,
O'Dooley, and yours truly, and that little dude, McGee.
With smoking And with drinking, the hours so slowly wane.
Of O'Riley we are thinking, as we sing this sad refrain:

Chorus.
Come back, O'Riley, wherever did you go?
We thought of you so highly, why did you leave us so?
Come back, O'Riley, and pay us what you owe!
Come back, O'Riley! *Come back.

Four Irishmen were passing where a bullock was confined,
They stopped to look him over, he didn't seem to mind;
O'Riley's red bandanna was flourished 'round his nose;
The animal espied it, and wrathfully he rose.
"Stand firm, boys," said O'Riley, "it don't look well to run;
You grab his tail, McGuffey, I'll show yez all some fun."
McGuffey followed orders-his bosom friend he mourns;
The others held the bullock's legs, O'Riley grabb'd its horns:

Chorus.
Come back, O'Riley, wherever did you go?
We thought of you so highly, why did you leave us so?
Come back, O'Riley, we'll wait for you below.
Come back, O'Riley! *Come back!

O'Riley's younger brother, with several of his friends,
On Sundays seeks Manhattan, where time and cash be spends.
A week ago last Sunday, it somehow came about,
He reached the steamer landing just as the boat pulled out.
His friends stood on the steamer, and shouted jests unkind.
"Begorra," said O'Riley, "I'll not be left behind."
Then rolling up his trousers, he made a flying leap.
O'Riley's feet were heavy, and the river it was deep:

Chorus.
Come back, O'Riley, wherever did you go?
We thought of you so highly, why did you leave us so?
Come back, O'Riley, you must feel damp below.
Come back, O'Riley! *come back.

We had an Irish servant, with bright vermillion hair,
Who made so many blunders she drove us to despair.
She loved a fat policeman, likewise the butcher's boy;
And with our pantry's contents she filled their hearts with joy.
One day she built a fire-the kindling wood was green;
To make it light more quickly, she fetched some kerosene:
She stooped low to apply it-her hair was far from black;
Oh, nevermore she'll try it, Miss Riley ne'er came back.

Chorus.
Come back, Miss Riley, wherever did you go?
We thought of you so highly, why did you leave us so?
Come back, Miss Riley, we'll wait for you below!
Come back, Miss Riley! *Come back!

A pretty girl in bloomers, Miss Riley was her name;
When scorching on her cycle, made other maids seem tame.
No grade too sharp for coasting, no hill too sleep to climb;

Miss Riley, in her bloomers, was wheeling all the time.
One day she struck a hillock, some twenty miles from town;
And, in her dashing manner, she soon was speeding down;
Ride in the lady's pathway ('twas such a funny snap,
A porcupine capricious had stretched to take a nap.

Chorus.
Come back, Miss Riley, wherever did you go?
We thought of you so highly, why did you leave as so?
Come back, Miss Riley, your fate we yearn to know!
Come back, Miss Riley! & Come back!

* All shout together.