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Giddy-i-ay, giddy-i-ay,
Giddy-i-ay for the one-eyed Riley;
Giddy-i-ay, giddy-i-ay,
Play it on your old bass drum.
Well, Riley played on a big bass drum,
And Riley had a mind for murder and slaughter;
Riley had a big great glitterin' eye,
Kept his eye on his lovely daughter.
Giddy-i-ay, giddy-i-ay,
Giddy-i-ay for the one-eyed Riley;
Giddy-i-ay, giddy-i-ay,
Play it on your old bass drum.
Well, her hair was black and her eyes were blue,
And the colonel and the major and the captain sought her;
The sergeant and the private and the drummer boy, too,
Never had a chance with Riley's daughter.
Giddy-i-ay, giddy-i-ay,
Giddy-i-ay for the one-eyed Riley;
Giddy-i-ay, giddy-i-ay,
Play it on your old bass drum.
So, I got me a ring and a parcel, too,
And I settled me down to marriage quarters;
Settled me down to a peaceful life,
Happy as a king with Riley's daughter.
Giddy-i-ay, giddy-i-ay,
Giddy-i-ay for the one-eyed Riley;
Giddy-i-ay, giddy-i-ay,
Play it on your old bass drum.
Well, suddenly a footstep on the stair,
And who could it be but Riley up a-slaughter;
With two pistols in his hands,
Looking for the man who married his daughter.
Giddy-i-ay, giddy-i-ay,
Giddy-i-ay for the one-eyed Riley;
Giddy-i-ay, giddy-i-ay,
Play it on your old bass drum.
I grabbed old Riley by the hair,
And I rammed his head in a pail of water;
Fired his pistols in the air,
Damn sight quicker than I married his daughter.
Giddy-i-ay, giddy-i-ay,
Giddy-i-ay for the one-eyed Riley;
Giddy-i-ay, giddy-i-ay,
Play it on your old bass drum.
See more songs by the Clancy Brothers.
This variant was arranged and recorded by Rankin Street (Pre-GBS tape — Live At The Blarneystone Pub in St. John's, NL, trk#6, 1991, NRA Productions, Ltd).
See more songs by Great Big Sea.
The YouTube video above features an excellent guitar performance by Tony from Port St. Mary's on the Isle of Man.
