Uploaded June 2015 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
LYRICS:
Fair young maid all in a garden
Strange young man passerby
Said fair maid, "Will you marry me?"
This then sir was her reply
"Oh no kind sir I cannot marry thee
For I've a love who sails all on the sea
He's been gone for seven years
Still no man shall marry me."
"What if he's in some battle slain?
Or drowned-ed in the deep salt sea?
What if he's found another love
And he and his love both married be?"
"If he's in some battle slain
I will die when the moon doth wane
If he's drowned-ed in the deep salt sea
I'll be true to his memory
And if he's found another love
And he and his love both married be
I wish them health and happiness
Where they dwell across the sea."
He picked her up all in his arms
And kisses gave her one two three
Saying, "Weep no more my own true love
I am your long lost John Riley
Weep no more my own true love
I am your long lost John Riley."
_____________________________________________________________________________
#notautotuned #notpitchcorrected
"John Riley" is a traditional English folk song about 400 years old. I first heard it on an album by Joan Baez. Many other artists have recorded this song over the years, but I still think Joan Baez's version is the best.
LYRICS:
Fair young maid all in a garden
Strange young man passerby
Said fair maid, "Will you marry me?"
This then sir was her reply
"Oh no kind sir I cannot marry thee
For I've a love who sails all on the sea
He's been gone for seven years
Still no man shall marry me."
"What if he's in some battle slain?
Or drowned-ed in the deep salt sea?
What if he's found another love
And he and his love both married be?"
"If he's in some battle slain
I will die when the moon doth wane
If he's drowned-ed in the deep salt sea
I'll be true to his memory
And if he's found another love
And he and his love both married be
I wish them health and happiness
Where they dwell across the sea."
He picked her up all in his arms
And kisses gave her one two three
Saying, "Weep no more my own true love
I am your long lost John Riley
Weep no more my own true love
I am your long lost John Riley."
_____________________________________________________________________________
#notautotuned #notpitchcorrected
"John Riley" is a traditional English folk song about 400 years old. I first heard it on an album by Joan Baez. Many other artists have recorded this song over the years, but I still think Joan Baez's version is the best.
