The Croppy Boy

The Croppy Boy

'Twas early, early all in the spring
The birds did whistle and sweetly sing
Spreading their notes from tree to tree
And the song they sang was old Ireland free

'Twas early, early in the night
The yeoman cavalry gave me a fright
The yeoman cavalry was my downfall
And taken was I by Lord Cornwall

'Twas in the guard-house where I was laid
And in a parlour where I was tried
My sentence passed and my spirits low
When to Duncannon I was forced to go

As I was walking past by my father's house
My brother William stood at the door
My aged father stood at the door
And my tender mother her hair she tore

As I was walking past Wexford Street
My own first cousin I chanced to meet
My own first cousin did me betray
And for one bare guinea swore my life away

My sister Mary heard the express
She ran downstairs in her morning dress
Five hundred guineas I will lay down
To see my brother safe in Wexford Town

As I was walking up Wexford Hill
Who could blame me to cry my fill
I looked behind and I looked before
But my tender mother I'll ne'er see more

As I was mounted on the platform high
My aged father was standing by
My aged father did me deny
And the name he gave me was the Croppy Boy

It was in Duncannon this young man died
And in Duncannon this young man lies
And you good people that do pass by
Will say a prayer for the Croppy Boy

Trad arr by Terence O'Flaherty