American Old Time Song Lyrics: 24 Since Reilly Took An Oath Hed Have My Life

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 24

Since Reilly Took an Oath He'd Have My Life.
Copyright, 1888, by M Witmark & Sons.
Words by M. J. Cavanagh. Music by Isidor Witmark.

I'm perfectly bewildered, I'm not myself at all,
But like a man that's walking in a trance;
I'm in mortal dread of Reilly, who swears he'll have my life
The first time that I give him half a chance.
We were always thick as brothers till a week ago to-night,
When McCarthy gave the neighbors all a spree;
'Twas there began the trouble, for Reilly he got vexed
Be the way his wife was buckling up to me.

Chorus.
He swears he'll stop at nothing short of murder,
And says I tried to lead his wife astray;
All night I dreamed of Reilly and his pistol.
Me heart is in me mouth throughout the day.
I didn't give him reason to be jealous,
Shure I was only joking with his wife, I'm as timid as a mouse;
I'm afraid to leave the house
Since Reilly took an oath he'd have my life.

Shure I lay it to drinkin', we were all a trifle full,
And Reilly's wife was settin' on my knee;
Then Reilly he got boilin' and swore 'twas not
The place an honest married woman ought to be.
We tried to pacify him, but he'd murder in his eyes,
And all our augufying was no use;
It took them all to hould him, till I got out the dure,
If they'd let him up he would have cooked my goose.-Cho.

When Reilly's name is mentioned I tremble like a leaf,
With fright I'm growing thinner than a rail;
I had him twice arrested, but Reilly has a pull,
The politicians got him out of jail.
He has a big revolver that 'ud kill a Texas steer,
And night and day he's always on my track;
Me eyes are growin' crooked from keeping watch behind,
For fear that Reilly'd stab me in the back.-Chorus.