Song information On this page you can find the lyrics of the song John Riley, artist - Tim O'Brien. Album song The Crossing, in the genre Музыка мира
Date of issue: 30.04.2020
Record label: Alula
Song language: English
John Riley |
John Riley came form Galway town in the years of the Irish hunger |
And he sailed away to America when the country was much younger |
The place was strange and work was scarce and all he knew was farming |
So he followed his other Irish friends to a job in the US Army |
Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story |
Some get drunk on demon rum and some get drunk on glory |
They marched down Texas way to the banks of the Rio Grande |
They built a fort on the banks above to taunt old Santa Anna |
They were treated bad, paid worse, and then the fighting started |
The more they fought the less they thought of the damned old US Army |
Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story |
Some get drunk on demon rum and some get drunk on glory |
When the church bells rang on Sunday morn it set his soul a shiver |
He saw the Senoritas washing their hair on the far side of the river |
John Riley and two hundred more Irish mercenaries |
Cast their lot, right or not, south of the Rio Grande |
Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story |
Some get drunk on demon rum and some get drunk on glory |
They fought bravely under the flag of the San Patricios |
Till the Yankees soldiers beat them down at the battle of Churubusco |
Then fifteen men were whipped like mules |
And on the cheeks were hot iron branded |
Made to dig the graves of fifty more, who a hanging fate had handed |
Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story |
Some get drunk on demon rum and some get drunk on glory |
John Riley stands and drinks alone at a bar in Vera Cruz |
He wonders if it matters much if you win or if you lose |
I’m a man who can’t go home, a wanderer, says he |
A victim of some wanderlust and divided loyalty |
Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story |
Some get drunk on demon rum and some get drunk on glory |