I HANDED IT OVER TO RILEY.
By Felix McGlennon.
There never were two stauncher pals
Than I and my chum, Johnny Riley,
We’d booze together or flirt with gals,
And we valued each other highly;
Whenever there was any booze to be got,
Or somebody paid for the keg or pot,
I would collar the measure and gulp the lot,
Then I handed it over to Riley.
Chorus.
For Riley and I were chums and we always shared
Black eyes or sugar plums, the divil a hair we cared,
When there was anything nice about, take my word,
That when I had done I handed it on to Riley!
One day while I was on a spree
Along with my chum, Johnny Riley,
One of those men they call a “D”
Came in and surveyed us slyly,
Then he grabbed me gently by the ear,
And whispered “Young man, I’ve a warrant here!”
Well, I took that warrant with the greatest fear,
Then I handed it over to Riley.—Chorus.
One night I found a watch and chain,
While out with my chum, Johnny Riley,
And he for his share did soon complain
And he did it so awfully wily,
But as by a lamp we chanced to pass,
I saw by the light of the flaring gas
That the watch was gold but the chain was brass,
So the chain went over to Riley.—Chorus.
One sweet spring morn I took a wife,
My best man of course was Riley,
I thought she’d be the joy of my life,
For she acted so very shyly;
But I soon found that marriage was no great fun,
For she chased me round the house with a gun,
Till I said, “Dear madam, with you I’ve done!”
And I handed her over to Riley.—Chorus.
Copyright, 1892, by Frank Tousey. The complete words and music of this song will be sent by mail for 20 cents. Address, Frank Tousey, Publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore Street, New York. Catalogues sent free upon application.