O'reilly Luck Lyrics - Singles - Buddy Jewell

Granddaddy used to sit me on his knee 

And tell me how it was in the old country 

Famine and floods and crops that failed 

I'd listen for hours as he told his tale 

He said, "There must have been a curse on the family name" 

But he swore he'd be the one to break that chain 

With money that he saved from the sweat of his brow 

He'd get 'em out of there, someday, somehow 

Well, he never was much of a gamblin' man 

But he dreamed of passage to the Promised Land 

Bet it all on a better life in America 

He said, "We'll change our fate, and this danged O'Reilly Luck" 

I can only imagine the look on his face 

Tickets in hand, as they counted the days 

Eleven passports, no turnin' back 

Decidin' what they should and shouldn't pack 

But the baby caught the fever just days before 

And the doctor hung a sheet on their front door 

For two long weeks they were quarantined 

Stranded with nothin' but a shattered dream 

Well, he never was much of a gamblin' man 

But he dreamed of passage to the Promised Land 

Bet it all on a better life in America 

He said, "We'll change our fate, and this danged O'Reilly Luck" 

Granddaddy told this story 'til he passed away 

How the people all cheered from the dock that day 

While he shook his fist with a tear in his eye 

At the beautiful ship of the White Star Line 

And he cursed his fate and his danged O'Reilly Luck 

As the mighty Titanic, sailed into the sun 

Well, he never was much of a gamblin' man 

But he found his way to the Promised Land 

Bet it all on a better life in America 

He said, "We'll change our fate, and this danged O'Reilly Luck 

Danged O'Relly Luck"