Motley Words

The anchor is weighed and the rags is all set
Bold Reilly, oh, Bold Reilly
The folks we are leaving, we’ll never forget
Bold Reilly, oh, gone away

 Goodbye, me sweetheart, goodbye, me dear, oh
Bold Reilly, oh, Bold Reilly,
Goodbye, me darlin’, goodbye, me dear, oh
Bold Reilly, oh, gone away

Wake up Mary Ellen and don’t look so glum
Bold Reilly, oh, Bold Reilly,
By White stocking time you’ll be drinking hot rum
Bold Reilly, oh, gone away

(Chorus)

The rain it is raining now all the day long
Bold Reilly, oh, Bold Reilly
The northerly wind, it is blowing so strong
Bold Reilly, oh, gone away

(Chorus)

We’re all outward bound for the Bengal bay
Bold Reilly, oh, Bold Reilly
Get ready me lads tis a hell of a way
Bold Riley, oh, gone away

(Chorus)

Repeat Bold Reilly oh gone away x 2

Notes

The origins of Bold Riley O appear to be shrouded in mystery; it does not appear in Stan Hugill’s 1961 shanty “bible” it appears, Shellbacks manning the windjammers of the West Indies trade brought back to Liverpool and Bristol more than sugar, bananas and rum; they also brought back many songs. Some of these they kept to themselves, some they handed on to vessels sailing in other waters. Thus the fine old song Bold Riley O, which started life as a Tobago reel, was sung at the halyards of many an East Indiaman bound for Bombay and the Bengal ports

Parts

Gigs