RELATED
Fionnuala Reilly Maxwell

Oh my Granny had a talent for the genealogy
For before there were computers, she could trace your family tree
You'd call in for a visit and before you'd drank your tea
To everyone you know you'd be related

CHORUS
Ah we are all related through marriage or through birth
Which either is a blessing or a God-almighty curse.
And you can trace the lineage for what it might be worth.
But in Ireland sure we are all related.

My name it is 0' Reilly or Reilly, I don't know.
For my father he was Reilly but his father had an "O"
For one of them refused the soup and they were forced to go.
So to all the travelling Reillys, I'm related.

CHORUS

"Hush, your cousin's on the radio" my grandad he would say.
"And we hope that you'll become a singing star like her someday"
Now second, third or twice removed, does it matter anyway.
To the famous Eleanor Shanley, I'm related.

CHORUS

Now my husband's second cousin is my second cousin too.
But before incestral thoughts arise, 'tis legal through and through.
And his brother's married to his sisters husband's sister .... who!?
Ah sure, like I'm trying to say, we're all related.

CHORUS

And if you don't believe me, then try it out some day.
Just pick a random stranger, a local or a stray.
You'll find that you're related in some peculiar way.
And don't forget me in your will, 'cause we're related!!

CHORUS

2019 Video: https://fb.watch/v/2idT4MGY9

Good to see the song "Related" being related in different corners of the world. Anne - you are correct - the lyrics of the song, of which I am the sole composer by the way (I think Veronica may have asked for permission to show the film of the O' Reillys singing it), are true to my life-story and were written as a bit of a fun way to document that. The O'Reilly children who sing it in that recording are not related to me at all (well - actually maybe they are if the song is anything to go by, but they are not closely related) - they attended a work-shop with me a couple of years back and enjoyed the " Reilly/O' Reilly part of the song) I was born Reilly or O' Reilly - we never knew which! so really my title is probably Fionnuala Reilly-Maxwell but I just stick to my married title these days of "Maxwell" as there is no issue there with an "O" or a "Mc" - and yes myself and my husband have mutual 2nd cousins, his brother and sister are married to a brother and sister, as were my mother's parents which meant she had double first cousins - it was all of this that set the cogs in motion for the song -as well as the tenuous relationship to Eleanor Shanley (her father was my grandfather's first cousin). I always tell people they can change some details if they wish to suit their own stories and some have...
Hope this helps to give some clarity on it all.
Fan slán
Fionnuala Maxwell
Leitrim, Ireland

Tony Becker