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The Croppy Boy

As sung by Anthony Kearns

‘Twas was early, early all in the spring

The birds did whistle and gaily sing,

Changing their notes from tree to tree

And the song they sang was Old Ireland free.

‘Twas was early early all in the night,

The yeoman cavalry gave me a fright;

The yeoman cavalry were my downfall

I was taken prisoner by Lord Cornwall.

As I was walking up Wexford Street

My own first cousin I chanced did meet;

My own first cousin did me betray

And for one bare guinea sold my life away.

As I was walking up Wexford Hill

Oh who could blame me to cry my fill?

I looked behind, and I looked before

But my tender mother I could see no more.

And as I mounted on the scaffold high

My own dear father was standing by;

My aged father did me deny

And the name he gave me was the Croppy Boy.

‘Twas was in Duncannon this young man died

And in passage east his body lies.

So all good people who do pass by

Say a prayer, shed a tear for the Croppy Boy.