Finn & Haddie, Good-Bye My Riley-O

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Good-Bye My Riley-O

as led by Barry Finn on Fathom This © 2007
Barry Finn and Neil Downey

Riley, Riley, where are you?
Oh, Riley, oh, man!
Riley, Riley, where are you?
Bye, bye, my Riley, oh man!

Riley's gone to London Bay,
Oh, Riley, oh, man!
London Bay so far away,
Bye, bye, my Riley, oh man!

Riley's gone to Liverpool,
Oh, Riley, oh, man!
Riley's gone an' I'll go too,
Bye, bye, my Riley, oh man!

Wish I was Captain Riley's son,
Oh, Riley, oh, man!
I'd stay at home an' drink good rum,
Bye, bye, my Riley, oh man!

I thought I heard the Captain say,
Oh, Riley, oh, man!
Tomorrow be our sailing day,
Bye, bye, my Riley, oh man!

Riley, Riley, where are you?
Oh, Riley, oh, man!
Riley, Riley, where are you?
Bye, bye, my Riley, oh man!

A shanty from the Georgia Sea Island Singers, found in Lydia Parrish's collection. Frankie Quimby tells that Riley was the nickname of a slave driver who was kinder than most, and therefore missed when leaving.