The Halliard - Croppy Boy lyrics

'Twas early early all 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's Free' 'Twas in the darkest hour of night The yoeman cavalry gave me a fright The yoeman cavalry was my downfall And I was taken by the Lord Cornwall As I was dragged along Wexford street My own first cousin I chanced to meet My own first cousin did me betray For one bare guinea swore my life away My sister Mary in great distress Ran down the stairs in her cold nightdress My life my virtue I will lay down To see my brother safe all in Wexford town As I was stood on the gallows high Who but my father was standing by My father stood and did me deny And the name he gave me was the croppy boy In Dungannon my corpse will lie For in Dungannon I must die Don't shed a tear as you pa** by For I go proudly as the croppy boy