The lyrics to Come Back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff were written by Irish songwriter Percy French.
Come Back Paddy Reilly
Videos
Percy French songwriter
The song is about French’s driver who had emigrated to Scotland.
The aptly named Irish singer Paddy Reilly performs this song with the Dubliners in the key E.
Chord Converter
Our chord converter enables you to play this song in any key.
He puts a capo on the fourth fret and plays in C shapes.
Louise Morrissey performs the song in C Major. Brendan O’Dowda sings it in G.
Use our key converter to change to these keys or any other key.
My mother once told me that when I was born
The day that I first saw the light,
I looked down the street on that very first morn
And gave a great crow of delight.
Now most newborn babies appear in a huff,
And start with a sorrowful squall,
But I knew I was born in Ballyjamesduff
And that’s why I smiled on them all.
The baby’s a man, now he’s toil-worn and tough
Still, whispers come over the sea,
“Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff
Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me.
The night that we danced by the light of the moon,
Wid Phil to the fore wid his flute,
When Phil threw his lip over “Come Again Soon,
He’s dance the foot out o’ yer boot!
The day that I took long Magee by the scruff
For slanderin’ Rosie Kilrain,
Then, marchin’ him straight out of Ballyjamesduff,
Assisted him into a drain.
Oh, sweet are the dreams, as the dudeen I puff,
Of whisperings over the sea,
Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff
Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me.
I’ve loved the young women of every land,
That always came easy to me;
Just barrin’ the belles of the Black-a-moor brand
And the chocolate shapes of Feegee.
But that sort of love is a moonshiny stuff,
And never will addle me brain,
For the bells will be ringin’ in Ballyjamesduff
For me and me Rosie Kilrain!
And through all their glamour, their gas and their guff
A whisper comes over the sea,
“Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff
Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me.”
I’ve struck oil at last! I’ve struck work, and I vow
I’ve struck some remarkable clothes,
I’ve struck a policeman for sayin’ that now,
I’d go back to my beautiful Rose.
The belles they may blarney, the boys they may bluff
But this I will always maintain,
No place in the world like Ballyjamesduff
No girl like Rosie Kilrain.
I’ve paid for my passage, the sea may be rough
But borne on each breeze there will be,
Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff
Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me.”
Come Back Paddy Reilly
Videos
Lyrics and chords
Links to other songs by Percy French
Mountains of Mourne
Abdul Abulbul Amir
Come Back Paddy Reilly
McBrean’s Heifer
Phil the Fluther’s Ball
Percy French – the songwriter
Come Back Paddy Reilly lyrics and chords print version
My mother once told me that when I was born
The day that I first saw the light,
I looked down the street on that very first morn
And gave a great crow of delight.
Now most newborn babies appear in a huff,
And start with a sorrowful squall,
But I knew I was born in Ballyjamesduff
And that’s why I smiled on them all.
The baby’s a man, now he’s toil-worn and tough
Still, whispers come over the sea,
“Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff
Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me.
The night that we danced by the light of the moon,
Wid Phil to the fore wid his flute,
When Phil threw his lip over “Come Again Soon,
He’s dance the foot out o’ yer boot!
The day that I took long Magee by the scruff
For slanderin’ Rosie Kilrain,
Then, marchin’ him straight out of Ballyjamesduff,
Assisted him into a drain.
Oh, sweet are the dreams, as the dudeen I puff,
Of whisperings over the sea,
Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff
Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me.
I’ve loved the young women of every land,
That always came easy to me;
Just barrin’ the belles of the Black-a-moor brand
And the chocolate shapes of Feegee.
But that sort of love is a moonshiny stuff,
And never will addle me brain,
For the bells will be ringin’ in Ballyjamesduff
For me and me Rosie Kilrain!
And through all their glamour, their gas and their guff
A whisper comes over the sea,
“Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff
Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me.”
I’ve struck oil at last! I’ve struck work, and I vow
I’ve struck some remarkable clothes,
I’ve struck a policeman for sayin’ that now,
I’d go back to my beautiful Rose.
The belles they may blarney, the boys they may bluff
But this I will always maintain,
No place in the world like Ballyjamesduff
No girl like Rosie Kilrain.
I’ve paid for my passage, the sea may be rough
But borne on each breeze there will be,
Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff
Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me.”
Come Back Paddy Reilly
Videos
Lyrics and chords
Links to other songs by Percy French
Mountains of Mourne
Abdul Abulbul Amir
Come Back Paddy Reilly
McBrean’s Heifer
Phil the Fluther’s Ball
Percy French – the songwriter