John O'reilly Lyrics - Singles - Charlie Robison

My name is John O'Reilly and my father worked the fields 

In the hills of old Kilarny where I helped him turn the wheels 

My arms grew hard as iron for a boy of 17 

And I used my fists for gambling in those wet Kilarny streets 

Well the ship left for America and I brought my pack aboard 

Said goodbye to my dear Ireland said a prayer to my dear Lord 

But I fought those sorry guineas in the kitchen they called hell 

Well I fought them for their dollar and those guineas paid me well 

Fair thee well fair dover 

Fair thee well your seasons turn 

For my pockets will be jingling on the day of my return 

The day of my return 

Well I fought in New York City and I fought the Jersey shore 

My gut stayed full of whiskey and my bed stayed full of whores 

Well they called my right a cannonball and my left they called the same 

And I left em' all lyin' half in blood and half in shame 

Well I met a man on '32 and he stuck out his hand 

And he offered me a thousand if I'd fall before his man 

Well I said it could be done but only for another two 

And he smiled at me and nodded as I stuck it in my shoe 

Fair thee well fair dover 

Fair thee well your seasons turn 

For my pockets will be jingling on the day of my return 

The day of my return 

Well they rang the bell two times before I let him have my nose 

And I let him work my left until my eye was swollen closed 

Then I let loose a right that they still talk about today 

For that guinea didn't know that I had bet the other way 

They covered every dock and every port there on the coast 

Looking for that double crosser who had turned into a ghost 

But I was on a train my friend that rode the other way 

And I'll sail from California back to Dublin one fine day 

Fair thee well fair dover 

Fair thee well your seasons turn 

For my pockets will be jingling on the day of my return 

The day of my return 

Fair thee well fair dover 

Fair thee well your seasons turn 

For my pockets will be jingling on the day of my return 

The day of my return