Riley did it

This page quotes lyrics which contain offensive language, reflecting attitudes common in the period when this song was first performed.

AKARiley, Riley
First Published1896

Writer/composerTW ConnorRoudRN32810

Music Hall PerformersJW Rowley
Folk performancesCollected from the singing of:
Griffiths, May ; England : Lancashire; 1986
RILEY DID IT!
Written and Composed by T. W. CONNOR,
Sung by J. W. ROWLEY,

Now Riley was a man who always
Did as he was told
The other night he went home tight,
His wife began to scold;
He seiz'd the poker, never meant
To strike her, and she knew it
"Ah, what! you strike me!
I'd like to see you do it !"

So Riley did it!
Riley did it!
Bridget now has got a lump
As big as a tater on her chump;
Don't blame Riley, man's as good as gold
Riley simply did as he was told !

[twice]

Now Riley by profession was
A bricklayer's shorthand clerk
One day he took the wrong hod
When he started on his work;
He'd got right up the ladder, when
A man yelled out, "You'll cop it!
You've sthole my hod, ye blackguard! Hi!
D'y'ear, ye gossoon? — drop it!"

So Riley did it!
Riley did it!
The man who bade him drop it, though,

Was underneath when he let go ;
Don't blame Riley, man's as good as gold
Riley simply did as he was told!


Now Riley went to see a play,
His wife and children too,
But pacify their youngest boy
Was more than they could do;
It howled and howled till ev'ry one
Was fairly down upon it,
Then some one in the gall'ry yelled,
"D'y'ear, old man? sit on it!"

And Riley did it!
Riley did it!
When he got up off the seat,
The kid was squashed to sausage meat;

Don't blame Riley, man's as good as gold
Riley simply did as he was told!

A letter came to Riley once
That nearly turned his head
'Twas from his wife's first husband, and,
To finish up, it said
"I hope you won't forget to call
On your old 'gossip,' Flynn;
I'm living on the river
If you're down that way, drop in."

So Riley did it!!
Riley did it!
He dropped into the water, swish!
And poisoned all the poor little fish ;
But don't blame Riley, man's as good as gold
Riley simply did as he was told!


This Riley was a masterpiece
At talking politics;
He got into an argument
With sev'ral other Micks
Says Riley, "It's a shame they've put
Our Home Rule on the shelf"
Says his opponent, "Man, you're mad!
Get out! Go'n' hang yourself!

So Riley did it!
Riley did it!
Took the garter off his leg,
And hung his carcase on a peg ;
But don't blame Riley, man's as good as gold

Riley simply did as he was told!

Another turn of the last century song from the Halls remembered by a traditional singer in the 2nd half of the 20th century. This one was originally written by  TW Connor , and performed by  JW “Over” Rowley .

In 1986 it was collected from the singing of May Griffiths by Nick and Mally Dow – at some point soon it may once again be available to listen to in the British Library Sound Archive

JW Rowley sings it, from Belle Époque records and cylinders online

Sources:

  • VWML entry
  • Lyrics and Sheet Music: Connor, T. W., & Rowley, J. W. (1896). Riley did it! Francis, Day & Hunter.[Bodleian Library Mediated Copying]
  • http://www.phonobase.org/9597.html
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