As I was sitting by the fire
Talking to old Reilly's daughter
Suddenly a thought come into my head
I'd like to marry old Reilly's daughter

Chorus:
Giddy-I-ay, giddy-I-ay, giddy-I-ay for the one eyed Reilly
Giddy-I-ay, bangin' on the ol' bass drum

Reilly played on a big bass drum
Reilly had a mind for murder and slaughter
Reilly had a bright, red, glittering eye
And he kept that eye on his lovely daughter

(Chorus)

Her hair was red and her stockings blue
The colonel and the major and the captain sought her
The sergeant and the private and the drummer boy too
But they never had a chance with Reilly's daughter

(Chorus)

I got me a ring and a parson too
I got me a scratch and a married quarters
Settled me down to a peaceful life
Happy as a king with Reilly's daughter

(Chorus)

Soon a foot steps up the stairs
Who should it be, but Reilly out for slaughter
With two pistols in his hand
Looking for the man that had married his daughter

(Chorus)

I got old Reilly by the hair
Rammed his head in a pale of water
Fired his pistols into the air
Damn sight quicker than I married his daughter

(Chorus 2x)

And it's no, nay, never
No, nay, never, no more
Will I play the wild Irish rover
No never, no more

I've been a wild rover for many a year
And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer
But now I've returned with some gold in great store
Never to play the wild rover no more

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner
round the flure yer trotters shake
Bend an ear to the truth they tell ye
we had lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake

Now the spirits new life gave the corpse, my joy
Tim jumped like a Trojan from the bed
Cryin' will ye walup each girl and boy
t'underin' Jaysus, do ye think I'm dead?

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner
round the flure yer trotters shake
Bend an ear to the truth they tell ye
we had lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake