Granddaddy to sit me on his knee And me how it was in the old country Famine and floods and crops that I'd listen for hours as he his tale
He said, "There must have been a curse on the 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 much of a man But he dreamed of to the Promised Land Bet it all on a life in America He said, "We'll change our fate, and danged O'Reilly Luck"
I can imagine the look on his face Tickets in hand, as they counted the Eleven passports, no back Decidin' what they should and shouldn't
But the baby caught the fever just days And the doctor hung a sheet on their door For two long weeks they quarantined Stranded with nothin' but a shattered
Well, he never was of a gamblin' man But he dreamed of passage to the Promised Bet it all on a better in America He said, "We'll change our fate, and danged O'Reilly Luck"
Granddaddy told this 'til he passed away How the people all cheered from the that day While he shook his 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 much of a man But he found his way to the Promised Bet it all on a life in America He said, "We'll change our fate, and this danged O'Reilly Danged Luck"