Lyr Req: Riley's Farewell / Reilly's Farewell

Subject: Riley's Farewell
From:
Date: 05 Nov 98 - 02:52 PM

I'm looking for the words to "Riley's Farewell"

Subject: Riley's Farewell
From: Graham Barber
Date: 05 Nov 98 - 05:09 PM

I'm looking for the words to "Riley's Farewell" for a retirement party

Subject: RE: Riley's Farewell
From:
Date: 05 Nov 98 - 05:27 PM

In DT file RILYFRWL.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Riley's Farewell / Reilly's Farewell
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 03 Mar 21 - 10:16 AM

RILEY’S FAREWELL

AS I rov’d out one evening down by a river side,
I heard a lovely maid complain, the tears fell from her eyes,
It is a cold and stormy night, these words she did say,
My love is on the raging sea, bound for America.

My love, he was a sailor bold, his age was scarce sixteen,
He was as nice a young man, as ever you did see,
My father he has riches great, and Riley he was poor,
Because I loved this sailor, they could not him endure.

Riley was my love’s name, - he liv’d down by the sea,
My mother took me by the hand, and these words she did say,
If you be fond of Riley, let him leave this country,
Your father says he’ll take his life, or shun his company.

Oh! mother dear, don’t be severe, where shall I find my love,
My very heart lies in his breast, as constant as a Dove.
Oh, daughter dear, I’m not severe, there is one thousand pound,
Send Riley to America, to purchase there some ground.

When she got the money, to Riley she did run,
This very night, to take your life, my father charged his gun,
Here is one thousand pounds in gold, my mother sent to you,
Sail off to America, and there I’ll follow you.

When Riley got the money, next day he sail’d away,
When he got his foot on board, these words she did say,
Here is a token of my love, and we’ll break it in two,
You’ll have my heart, and half my ring, until I find out you.

It was in twelve months after, she was walking by the sea,
When Riley, he came back again, and took his love away,
The ship was wrecked, all hands were lost, her father grieved full sore,
Found her in Riley’s arms, and they were drown’d upon the shore.

They found a letter in her breast, and it was wrote in blood,
Saying, Cruel was my father that thought to shoot my love;
So let this be a warning to all you fair maidens gay,
Never to send the man they love upon the raging sea.


J Ashton – Modern Street Ballads (1888)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Riley's Farewell / Reilly's Farewell
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 05 Mar 21 - 11:16 PM

Just for the record, here's a version from Maine

John Riley's Farewell
Hanford Hayes, Bridgewater ME 9/22/1940, 5/10/1942
Helen Hartness Flanders Collection
Middlebury College, Middlebury VT
D06B 09 side A 27:03 retake 12 40:05, D06B 13 Side B
Transcription © 2017 Julia Lane

'T was on a dark and stormy night I heard a fair one say
"My true love is on the raging main bound for Americay
John Riley was my true love's name as you may understand (born near the town of Rae)
And he had for to leave his native isle his precious life to save

2
My parents they had riches great and Riley he had none
And because I loved my sailor lad they could not him endure
Up stepped my dearest mama (old mother) and unto me did say
If you are fond of Riley, you had better send him away

3
"'Oh, mama, dear, don't be severe; where would I send my love?
For my very heart lies in his breast as constant as a dove.'
"Oh, daughter, dear, I am not severe; here is five (one) thousand pounds,
Send Riley to Americay and there purchase some ground."

4
As soon as she this money got to Riley she did run,
Saying: "This very night, to take your life, my father has charged a gun.
Here is five (one) thousand pounds in gold, my mama sent to you,
So sail to Americay and I (soon) will follow you."

(As soon as he this money got, those words I heard him say
You have my heart, you have my ring till I return this way)

5
In about six months or better, this maid was wandering by the sea,
John Riley sent a boat onshore and he bore his love away.
The ship (boat) was lost, and all were drowned, her father wept full sore,
Found Riley in his true love's arms, all drownded on the shore.
        `1`
6
And in her bosom a note was found, those words was written in blood,
Saying: "Cruel was my father; he tried for to shoot my love!
Here's a warning to all pretty fair maids, all pretty fair maidens gay,
To never let the lad you love sail to Americay"

--------------
Note: Another version, sung by Leonard Gilks, also of Bridgewater is almost identical, but the beginning of tape corrupted- intelligible from verse 4. The melody is identical. The initial verses may be presumed to be the same. The song (lyrics only) was also collected by Fanny Eckstorm in 1935 from Pearle Crory of Portage who heard her 81 year old father sing it. He said he had learned it "as a child"- possibly 1865?