John O'Reilly
Charlie Robison Lyrics

My name is John O'Reilly
I am introducing myself as John O'Reilly.

And my father worked the fields
My father used to work in the fields.

In the hills of old Kilarny
The fields were located in the hills of old Kilarny.

Where I helped him turn the wheels
I used to help him turn the wheels.

My arms grew hard as iron for a boy of 17
At the age of 17, my arms became very strong.

And I used my fists for gambling in those wet Kilarny streets
I used my strength to gamble in the wet streets of Kilarny.

Well the ship left for America and I brought my pack aboard
I left for America with my belongings on a ship.

Said goodbye to my dear Ireland said a prayer to my dear Lord
I bid farewell to my beloved Ireland and prayed to my lord.

I fought those sorry guineas in the kitchen they called hell
I fought with the people in the kitchen which they called hell.

I fought them for their dollar and those guineas paid me well
I fought them for their money and they paid me handsomely.

Fair thee well fair Dover
Goodbye to you, Dover.

Fair thee well your seasons turn
Your seasons will change.

For my pockets will be jingling on the day of my return
I will return richer.

The day of my return
On the day of my return.

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

My gut stayed full of whiskey and my bed stayed full of whores
I drank whiskey and slept with prostitutes.

They called my right a cannonball and my left they called the same
They gave my punches the names 'cannonball'.

I left em' all lyin' half in blood and half in shame
I beat all of my opponents and left them in a sorry state.

I met a man on '32 and he stuck out his hand
I met a man on '32 and he offered a handshake.

And he offered me a thousand if I'd fall before his man
He offered me a thousand dollars to lose a fight.

I said it could be done but only for another two
I agreed to do it, but asked for more money.

He smiled at me and nodded as I stuck it in my shoe
He was satisfied with the deal and I hid the money in my shoe.

They rang the bell two times before I let him have my nose
I allowed him to punch me in the nose after two rounds.

And I let him work my left until my eye was swollen closed
I let him punch my left eye so much, that it was swollen shut.

Then I let loose a right that they still talk about today
I landed a powerful punch that people still talk about.

For that guinea didn't know that I had bet the other way
He did not know that I had placed a bet on the other fighter.

They covered every dock and every port there on the coast
They looked for me at every dock and port on the coast.

Looking for that double crosser who had turned into a ghost
They were looking for me, who had fooled them and disappeared.

But I was on a train my friend that rode the other way
I was already on a train, going in the opposite direction.

And i'll sail from California back to Dublin one fine day
One day, I will sail from California back to Dublin.