The Croppy Boy It was early, early in the spring The birds did whistle and sweetly sing Changing their notes from tree to tree And the song they sang was Old Ireland free. It was early early in the night, The yeoman cavalry gave me a fright The yeoman cavalry was my downfall And I was taken 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 courage low When to Dungannon I was forced to go. As I was passing my father's door 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 going up 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. As I was walking up Wexford Hill Who could blame me to cry my fill? I looked behind, and I looked before But my aged mother I shall see no more. And as I mounted 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 Dungannon this young man died And in Dungannon his body lies. And you good people that do pass by Oh shed a tear for the Croppy Boy.