Digital Tradition Mirror

John Reilly

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

John Reilly

Dm                  G    Dm
Fair young maid all in a garden
                  G   Dm
Strange young man passerby
     F                        C
Said fair maid will you marry me
      Gm                Dm
This, then sir, was her reply

O no, kind sir, I cannot marry thee
For I've a love who sails all on the sea
Though he's been gone for seven years
Still no man shall marry me

What if he's in some battle slain
Or drownded in the deep salt sea
What if he's found another love
And he and his love both married be

If he's in some battle slain
I will die when the moon doth wane
If he's drownded in the deep salt sea
I'll be true to his memory

And if he's found another love
And he and his love both married be
I wish them health and happiness
Where they dwell across the sea

He picked her up all in his arms
And kisses gave her one, two, three
Saying, weep no more, my own true love
I am your long, lost John Reilly

recorded by Seeger, Baez, Collins- Maid of Constant Sorrow
DT #462
Laws N42

DC

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!