John Oreilly
View chords used in this chart
D
G
My name is John O'Reilly And my father worked the fields
D
A
In the hills of ol' Kilarney Where I helped him turn the wheels
D G
My arms grew hard as iron For a boy of 17
D A
D
And I used my fists for gamblin' In those wet Kilarney streets
D G
Well the ship left for America I took my pack aboard
D
A
Said goodbye to my dear Ireland Said a prayer to my dear Lord
D
G
I fought those sorry guineas In the kitchen they called hell
D A
D
I fought 'em for their dollar And those guineas paid me well
CHORUS:
D
G
Fair thee well fair Dover Fair thee well your seasons turn
D A
D
For my pockets will be jingling On the day of my return The day of my
return
D G
I fought in New York City and I Fought the Jersey shore
D A
My gut stayed full o' whiskey My bed stayed full o' whores
D
G
They called my right a cannonball My left they called the same
D A D
I left 'em all a lyin' half in blood And the other half in shame
D G
I met a man on '32 and he stuck out his hand
D A
He offered me a 1,000 if I'd fall before his man
D G
I said it could be done but only for another two
D A D
He smiled at me and nodded as I Stuck in my shoe
CHORUS:
D
G
Fair thee well fair Dover Fair thee well your seasons turn
D A
D
For my pockets will be jingling On the day of my return The day of my
return
D G
They rang the bell two times Before I let I'd have my nose
D A
I let him work my left until My eye was swollen closed
D G
Then I let loose a right that they Still talk about today
D A D
For that guinea didn't know that I had bet the other way
D G
They covered every dock at every Port there on the coast
D A
Lookin' for the double crosser Who had turned into a ghost
D G
But I was on a train my friend That rolled the other way
D A D
I I'll sail from California back To Dublin one fine day
CHORUS:
D
G
Fair thee well fair Dover Fair thee well your seasons turn
D A
D
For my pockets will be jingling On the day of my return The day of my
return
D
G
Fair thee well fair Dover Fair thee well your seasons turn
D A
D
For my pockets will be jingling On the day of my return The day of my
return
How to play John Oreilly
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is D. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.