There are two versions of this song, the first written by an unknown author and the most popular version, the second less well known and written by Carroll Malone

Version 2

Croppy Boy - Version 1
Author : Unknown

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.

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Version 2

THE CROPPY BOY
Author : Carroll Malone aka ???
Recorded by The Irish Brigade

"Good men and true, in this house do dwell,
to a stranger bouchal I pray you tell,
Is the priest at home? Or may he be seen?
I would speak a word with Father Green."

"The Priests at home, boy, and may be seen;
'Tis easy speaking with Father Green;
But you must wait 'till I go and see
If the Holy Father alone may be."

The youth has entered an empty hall -
What a lonely sound has his light foot-fall!
And the gloomy chamber's chill and bare,
With a vested priest in a lonely chair.

The youth has knelt to tell his sins,
"Nomine Dei", the youth begins
At "Mea Culpa" he beats his breast,
and in broken murmers he speaks the rest.

"At the siege of Ross did my father fall,
And at Gorey my loving brothers all;
I alone am left of my name and race,
I will go to wexford and take my place.

I cursed three times since last Easter day
At Mass time once I went to play;
I passed the churchyard one day in haste
And forgot to pray for my mother's rest."

"I hear no hate against living things
But I love my country above my king,
Now, Father! bless me and let me go
To die for God ordained it so."

The priest said naught, but a rustling noise,
Made the youth look up in wild surprise:
The robes were off, and in scarlet there
Say a Yeoman captain with firey glare.

With firey glary and fury hoarse,
Instead of a blessing he breathed a curse
"'Twas a good thought, boy, to come here and shrive,
For one short hour is your time to live"

"Upon yon river, three tenders float,
The priest's in one - if he isn't shot -
We hold this house for our Lord and King
And, Amen, say I may all traitors swing!"

At Geneva Barracks that young man died,
and at Passage there have his body laid.
Good people who live in peace and joy,
Breath a prayer, shed a tear, for the Croppy Boy.

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