John Riley (song)

The song is derived from Homer's Odyssey, interpreted through the 17th century English folk ballad tradition, and tells the story of a prospective suitor who asks a woman if she will marry him. She replies that she cannot because she is betrothed to John Riley, who has gone away over the seas.

The man persists, asking her whether Riley is worth waiting for and suggesting that he may have drowned, been killed in war, or married another woman. She steadfastly maintains that she will continue to wait for Riley, regardless of his possible fate. In the last stanza, the suitor reveals that he is in fact John Riley, returned from the seas, and has been testing his beloved.

The song's theme, that of the "disguised true lover", has long been a theme in traditional folk ballads and several variations of this song exist.

• Pete Seeger released a version of the song on his album Darling Corey (1950).{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/darling-corey-mw0000978011 |title=Pete Seeger - Darling Corey |website=Allmusic |accessdate=December 11, 2018 }}
• Bob Gibson wrote and recorded a version of the song for his album Live at Cornell (1957) and The Riverside Folklore Series, Vol. 1: Joy Joy! The Young And Wonderful Bob Gibson (1996).{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-riverside-folklore-series-vol-1-joy-joy%21-the-young-and-wonderful-bob-gibson-mw0002814342 |title=Bob Gibson - The Riverside Folklore Series, Vol. 1: Joy Joy! The Young And Wonderful Bob Gibson |website=Allmusic |accessdate=March 26, 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bobgibsonfolk.com/song-john-riley/ |title=Song - John Riley |id= Bob Gibson Folk Legacy |website= bobgibsonfolk.com |accessdate=March 26, 2018 }}
• Odetta released a live version of the song on her live album Odetta at Carnegie Hall which was recorded on April 8, 1960.
• Joan Baez recorded the song for her debut album, Joan Baez (1960); her version is often credited with helping to popularise the song during the 1960s folk revival.{{cite web|title=Joan Baez album review|website=Allmusic|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r95900|pure_url=yes}}|accessdate=2009-07-27}}{{cite book |first=Johnny|last=Rogan |author-link=Johnny Rogan |page=184 |year=1998 |title=The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited |edition=2nd |publisher=Rogan House |isbn=0-9529540-1-X}}
• Art Podell and Paul Potash, known as the folk duo Art & Paul, also recorded the song for their album Songs of Earth and Sky (1960).{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/songs-of-earth-and-sky-mw0001124836 |title=Songs of Earth and Sky - Art & Paul |work=Allmusic|accessdate=January 8, 2018 }}
• Judy Collins included it on her 1961 album A Maid of Constant Sorrow.{{cite web|title=Songs of Earth and Sky review |website=Allmusic |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Akqknikv0bb69 |accessdate=2009-07-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050224134716/http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Akqknikv0bb69 |archivedate=February 24, 2005 }}{{cite web|title=A Maid of Constant Sorrow review|website=Allmusic|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r96066|pure_url=yes}}|accessdate=2009-07-27}}
• Australian folk singer Lionel Long recorded a version he "learned from a seaman" on his album Troubadour in 1965.{{cite web |url= https://www.discogs.com/master/1049915-Lionel-Long-Troubadour-Folk-Songs-of-the-British-Isles |title= Lionel Long – Troubadour: Folk Songs of the British Isles|website=Discogs |date= 1964|accessdate=October 31, 2022}}
• The American folk rock band The Byrds recorded a version of the song that was influenced by Baez's rendition on their album, Fifth Dimension (1966). The Byrds also released an instrumental version on the bonus tracks of their Fifth Dimension album.The Byrds, The Byrds: Fifth Dimension, Columbia/Legacy CK 64847, © 1996
• The Walkabouts recorded a version on their debut album See Beautiful Rattlesnake Gardens (1988).
• William Pint recorded a version of the song for his album Round the Corner in 1997.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/round-the-corner-mw0000026741 |title= William Pint - Round the Corner |website=Allmusic |accessdate=October 5, 2018 }}
• The English folk duo Show of Hands recorded the song for their self-released album Folk Music (1998).{{cite web |first1=Steve|last1=Knightley|first2=Phil|last2=Beer |url=https://showofhands.co.uk/album/692461/folk-music |title=Show of Hands - Folk Music |website=www.showofhands.co.uk |year=1998 |accessdate=March 8, 2018 }}
• Carol Noonan recorded the song for her release Carol Noonan - Self Titled (1999).{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/self-titled-mw0001890032

|title=Self Titled - Carol Noonan |work=Allmusic |accessdate=January 26, 2018 }}

• John Langstaff recorded a version of the song for his multi-disc folk music collection John Langstaff Sings - Archival Folk Collection (2004).{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/john-langstaff-sings-archival-folk-collection-mw0000139225 |title=John Langstaff - John Langstaff Sings Archival Folk Collection |website=Allmusic |accessdate=October 13, 2018 }}
• On the series finale of Andromeda, Doyle paraphrases this song when describing a dream she had.{{cite web|url=http://www.chakoteya.net/Andromeda/522.htm|title=Andromeda Season 5 Episode 22 script.|accessdate=August 12, 2019}}
• Niteworks released a version of this song, with vocals by Beth Malcolm, on their album A' Ghrian (2022).{{Cite web|title=Skye's Niteworks reflect on pandemic as band makes big return|url=https://www.thenational.scot/culture/19850769.skyes-niteworks-reflect-pandemic-band-makes-big-return/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=The National|date=16 January 2022 |language=en}}

{{quote|A fair young maid all in her garden,

A strange young man comes passing by

Saying fair maid, will you marry me

And this answer was her reply

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

But still no man shall marry me

Well what if he's in some battle slain

Or drowned in the deep salt sea

Or 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

And if he's drowned 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

Then I wish them health and happiness

Where they now dwell across the sea

He picked her up all in his arms

And kisses gave her one two and three

Saying weep no more my own true love

I am your long lost John Riley.}}

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Category:Songs about fictional male characters

Category:English folk songs

Category:Joan Baez songs

Category:The Byrds songs