Granddaddy to sit me on his knee And me how it was in the old country Famine and and crops that failed I'd listen for hours as he his tale
He said, "There must have been a on the family name" But he swore he'd be the one to break chain With money that he saved the sweat of his brow He'd get 'em out of there, someday,
Well, he was much of a gamblin' man But he of passage to the Promised Land Bet it all on a better life in He said, "We'll our fate, and this danged O'Reilly Luck"
I can imagine the look on his face in hand, as they counted the days Eleven passports, no turnin' Decidin' what they should and pack
But the baby caught the fever just days And the doctor hung a sheet on their door For two long they were quarantined Stranded nothin' but a shattered dream
Well, he never was of a gamblin' man But he dreamed of passage to the Promised Bet it all on a better life in He said, "We'll change our fate, and danged O'Reilly Luck"
Granddaddy told this 'til he passed away How the people all cheered the dock that day he shook his fist with a tear in his eye At the beautiful ship of the White Line
And he cursed his and his danged O'Reilly Luck As the Titanic, sailed into the sun
Well, he never was of a gamblin' man But he found his way to the Land Bet it all on a life in America He said, "We'll change our fate, and danged O'Reilly Luck O'Relly Luck"