Granddaddy used to sit me on his And me how it was in the old country Famine and floods and crops that I'd for hours as he told his tale
He said, "There have been a curse on the family name" But he he'd be the one to break that chain With money that he saved the sweat of his brow get 'em out of there, someday, somehow
Well, he never was of a gamblin' man But he of passage to the Promised Land Bet it all on a better life in He said, "We'll change our fate, and this O'Reilly Luck"
I can imagine the look on his face Tickets in hand, as counted the days Eleven passports, no back Decidin' they should and shouldn't pack
But the caught the fever just days before And the doctor a sheet on their front door For two weeks they were quarantined Stranded with nothin' but a shattered
Well, he never was of a gamblin' man But he of passage to the Promised Land Bet it all on a better life in He said, "We'll change our fate, and this O'Reilly Luck"
told this story 'til he passed away How the people all cheered from the dock day While he shook his fist a tear in his eye At the ship of the White Star Line
And he cursed his and his danged O'Reilly Luck As the mighty Titanic, sailed the sun
Well, he was much of a gamblin' man But he his way to the Promised Land Bet it all on a life in America He said, "We'll our fate, and this danged O'Reilly Luck O'Relly Luck"