As I was sitting by the fire Talking to O'Reilly's daughter Suddenly a thought came into my head I'd like to marry O'Reilly's daughter. Chorus: Giddy i-ae, Giddy i-ae, Giddy i-ae for the one-eyed Reilly Giddy i-ae (bang bang bang) Play it on your old Big drum Reilly played on the big bass drum Reilly had a mind for murder and slaughter Reilly had a bright red glittering eye And he kept that eye on his lovely daughter (Chorus) Her hair was black and her eyes were blue The colonel and the major and the captain sought her The sergeant and the private and the drummer boy too But they never had a chance with Reilly's daughter. (Chorus) I got me a ring and a parson too Got me a scratch in a married quarter Settled me down to a peaceful life Happy as a king with Reilly's daughter (Chorus) Suddenly a footstep on the stairs Who should it be but Reilly out for slaughter With two pistols in his hands Looking for the man who had married his daughter (Chorus) I caught O'Reilly by the hair Rammed his head in a pail of water Fired his pistols into the air A damned sight quicker than I married his daughter (Chorus)