Another great recording of a new song (to me) and a new singer (to me). Thanks to the singer, Cathal O’Neill, and the Irish Traditional Music Archives. (Jump to :49 to start the singing.)
John Reilly the Fisherman
One evening fair to take the air alone I chanced to stray
Down by a silvery winding stream that ran along the way
I overheard a maid complain as the tears fell from her eyes,
Saying, “My love is on the ocean wide bound for America.”
“John Reilly was my true love’s name, he lived near the town of Bray.
He was as fine a young man as ever you did see,
My father he had riches, while Reilly he was poor,
But because he was a fisherman they could not him endure.”
Her mother took her by the hand and this to her did say,
“If you be fond of Reilly, you must shun his company.
Here is one hundred pounds in gold and it can all be used.
Send Reilly to America and you can follow, too.”
Song of the Isles 