Dubliners - The Croppy Boy

capo 3 = F

it [ D ] was early , early [ G ] in the spring
the [ A ] birds did whistle and [ D ] sweetly sing ,
changing their notes from [ G ] tree to [ D ] tree
and the [ A ] song they sang was old [ D ] 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 .