This traditional sea shanty. Sailors were supposed to pull the sails during the chorus and rest in the verse. I focused more on the goodbye-ness of the song than the work of getting the sails ready for sea. My friend Cayla Cardiff came up with a variety of harmonies. She recorded both upper and lower harmonies and they are not the same static harmonies through the entire song. Her harmonies lift this song into a collective cry of parting from sweethearts and family.
Oh the rain it rains all day long,
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
And the northern wind, it blows so strong,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.
Goodbye my sweetheart, goodbye my dear-o
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
Goodbye my darlin', goodbye my dear-o,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.
Well come on, Mary, don't look glum,
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
Come White-stocking Day you'll be drinkin' rum
Bold Riley-o has gone away.
We're outward bound for the Bengal Bay,
Bold Riley-o, Bold Riley,
Get bending, me lads, it's a hell-of-a-way,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.