John O'Reilly

Oh, my name is John O'Reilly
And my father worked the fields
In the hills of old Killarny
Where I helped him turn the wheels
Oh, my arms grew hard as iron for a boy of 17
And I used my fists for gambling in those wet Killarny streets

Well, the ship left for America, and I took my pack aboard
Said goodbye to my dear Ireland, said a prayer to my dear Lord
Well, I fought those sorry Guineas in the kitchen they called hell
Well, I fought them for their dollar and those Guineas paid me well

Fairly well, fair Dover
Fairly 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 in the Jersey shore
But my gut stayed full of whiskey, and my bed stayed full of whores
Well, they called my right a cannonball, my left they called the same
I left them 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
He smiled at me and nodded as I stuck it in my shoe

Fairly well, fair Dover
Fairly well your seasons turn
For my pockets will be jingling on the day of my return
The day of my return (oh)

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

Well, 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

Fairly well, fair Dover
Fairly well your seasons turn
For my pockets will be jingling on the day of my return
The day of my return

Fairly well, fair Dover
Fairly well your seasons turn
For my pockets will be jingling on the day of my return
The day of my return (oh)