O'Riley is Dead

a song

My dad came home one day, somewhere in 1970, from a long night at the bar with his good friend and business partner, Pat O’Riley. They had invented a short tune as a drinking song, which is the chorus of my offering below. Quite proud of themselves, they were. It stuck with me, and many years later, I decided to write a whole song around the twin brothers O’Riley, and here, it is.

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[Chorus]

O’Riley is dead and his brother don’t know it

His brother is dead and O’Riley don’t know it

They’re both of them dead and they’re lyin in bed

And neither one knows that the other one’s dead

[Verse 1]

He made a life fishing the waters of Maine

Trapping the lobster and cursing the rain

The ship he called home will not see him again

Now that O’Riley is dead.

[Verse 2]

So raise up your glasses boys, Give me a toast

He was free with his money and given to boast

It’s 2 in the morning I miss him the most

Now that O’Riley is dead

[Pre-Chorus]

Lend me your legs and we’ll take him to sea

Out to the deeps where he’s longin to be

Was only on water he ever felt free

But Will O’Riley is dead

[Chorus]

O’Riley is dead and his brother don’t know it

His brother is dead and O’Riley don’t know it

They’re both of them dead and they’re lyin in bed

And neither one knows that the other one’s dead

[Melodic Interlude]

[Verse 3]

His brother rests there in his bed quite alone

The fire that roared in the chimney is done

He’d miss Will for sure if he knew he was gone

but Tam O’Riley is dead

[Verse 4]

Tam lived a life that was far from the sea

Tapping the trees for the syrup you see

And he loved his brother as fierce as could be

now Tam O’Riley is dead

[Pre-Chorus]

We’ll bury old Tam where I know he’ll be pleased

To rest in the shade and fertilize trees

Was out in the forest he felt the most free

now Tam O’Riley is dead

[Chorus]

O’Riley is dead and his brother don’t know it

His brother is dead and O’Riley don’t know it

They’re both of them dead and they’re lyin in bed

And neither one knows that the other one’s dead

[Melodic Interlude]

[Verse 5]

They toiled it’s true but they were content

And both of them thought that their life was well spent

Together were born and together they went

The brothers O’Riley are dead

Chorus]

O’Riley is dead and his brother don’t know it

His brother is dead and O’Riley don’t know it

They’re both of them dead and they’re lyin in bed

And neither one knows that the other one’s dead

Style prompts

irish folk drinking song, jig, female voice; stretch the third line of each verse with wistfulness