Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Reillys Farewell

Reilly's Farewell

Reilly's Farewell

As I walked out one evening down by a river clear,
I overheard a fair maid and the tears fell from her eye,
Saying, "This is a daIk rmd a stormy night" these words I heard her say,
"My love is on the raging main bound to America.

"n%ly love he is a sailor bold. His age is scarce nineteen.
He is as fine a young man as ever you have seen.
My mother took me by the hand, these words to me did say,
'If you are fond of Reilly let him leave this country.'

"'O mother dear, don't be severe. How can I part my love?
For his very heart lies in my breast as constant as a dove."
"O daughter dear, I'm not severe; here is one thousand pound.
Send Reilly to America to purchase there some ground."

As soon as Ellen received the money, to Reilly she did run;
Saying, "This very night for to take your life my father has charged his gun.
Here is one thousand pound in gold my mother sent to you.
You will sail away to America and I will follow you."

In two or three days after, young Reilly sailed away,
And when he put his foot on board, these are the words he said:
"Here is a token of true love. I'll break it fair in two.
You have my heart, so take this ring till I will find out you."

In two or three months after I was walking down the gate.
Young Reilly he came back again and took his love away.
The ship was wrecked, all hands were lost, her father wept full sore.
Young Reilly and his true love were found dead on the shore.

And on her breast a letter was found, and it was wrote with blood,
Saying, " Cruel was my father when he thought to shoot my love.
Let this be as a warning to all young maidens gay
For not to let the lads they love sail to America."

FRom Ballads and Sea Songs from Nova Scotia, Mackenzie
Collected from John Adamson
DT #463
Laws M8
RG
oct96






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