The Day Of My Return Lyrics - Singles - Mike Denver

My name is John O'Reilly 

And my father worked the fields 

In the hills of old Killarney 

Where I helped him turn the wheels 

My arms grew hard as iron for a boy of seventeen 

And I used my fists for gamblin' in those wet Killarney 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 

And I fought them for their dollars 

And those guineas paid me well 

[:: CHORUS ::] 

Fare thee well fair Dover 

Fare thee well, your seasons turn 

My pockets will be jinglin' on the day of my return 

The day of my return 

Well I fought in New York City and I fought the Jersey shores 

My gut stayed full of whiskey 

And my bed stayed full of whores 

They called my right a cannon-ball 

My left they called the same 

And I left them all a-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 

I said it could be done but only for another two 

And he smiled at me and nodded as I stuck it in my shoe 

[:: CHORUS ::] 

Fare thee well fair Dover 

Fare thee well, your seasons turn 

My pockets will be jinglin' on the day of my return 

The day of my return 

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 to-day 

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 the 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 

CHORUS (TWICE) 

Fare thee well fair Dover 

Fare thee well, your seasons turn 

My pockets will be jinglin' on the day of my return 

The day of my return