The Croppy Boy* -
[C] Good men and true in this [G7] house who dwell,
To a stranger bouchal* I [C] pray you [G7] tell
Is the [C] priest at [C7] home, or [F] may he be seen?
I would [C] speak a word with [G7] Father [C] Green."
[C] The Priest's at home, boy, and [G7] may be seen;
'Tis easy speaking with [C] Father [G7] Green.
But you [C] must [C7] wait till I [F] go and see
If the [C] Holy Father [G7] alone may [C] be."
[C] The youth he enter'd an [G7] empty hall;
What a chilling sound had his [C] light foot [G7] fall!
In a[C] gloomy [C7] chamber [F] dark and bare,
Sat a [C] vested Priest in a[G7] lonely [C] chair.
[C] The youth has knelt to [G7] tell his sins
"Nomine Dei," the [C] youth [G7] begins!
At the [C] mea [C7] culpa" he [F] beats his breast,
And in [C] broken murmers he [G7] speaks the [C] rest.
[C] At the siege of Ross did my [G7] father fall,
And at Gorey my loving [C] brothers [G7 all.
I am[C] all that is [C7] left of my [F] name and race;
I will [C] go to Wexford and [G7] take their [C] place.
[C] I cursed three times since last [G7] Easter day;
At mass time once I [C] went to [G7] play;
I [C] passed the [C7] churchyard one [F] day in haste,
And [C] forgot to pray for my [G7] poor mother's [C]rest.
[C] I bear no hate against [G7] living thing,
But I love my country [C] above the[G7] king.
So [C] bless me [C7] now Father and [F] let me go
To [C] die, if God has [G7] ordained it[C] so."
[C] The priest said nought, but a [G7] rustling noise
Made the youth look above in [C] wild sur-[G7]-prise;
The [C] robes were [C7] off, and in [F] scarlet there
Sat a [C] yoeman captain with [G7] fiery [C] glare.
[C] With fiery glare and with [G7] fury hoarse,
Instead of blessing, he [C] breathed a [G7] curse
"'Twas a [C] good [C7] thought, boy, to [F] come here to strive,
For [C] one short hour is your[G7] time to [C] live.
[C] Upon yon river three [G7] tenders float;
The Priest's in one — if he [C] isn't [G7] shot!
We [C] hold his [C7] house for our [F] Lord the King,
And, [C] amen I say, may all [G7] traitors [C] swing!"
[C] At Geneva Barracks that [G7] young man died,
And at Passage they have his[C] body[G7] laid.
Good [C] people who [C7] live in [F] peace and joy,
Breathe a [C] pray'r, shed a tear for the [G7] Croppy [C]* Boy
C Good men and true in this G7 house who dwell,
To a stranger bouchal* I C pray you G7 tell
Is the C priest at C7 home, or F may he be seen?
I would C speak a word with G7 Father C Green."
C The Priest's at home, boy, and G7 may be seen;
'Tis easy speaking with C Father G7 Green.
But you C must C7 wait till I F go and see
If the C Holy Father G7 alone may C be."
C The youth he enter'd an G7 empty hall;
What a chilling sound had his C light foot G7 fall!
In aC gloomy C7 chamber F dark and bare,
Sat a C vested Priest in aG7 lonely C chair.
C The youth has knelt to G7 tell his sins
"Nomine Dei," the C youth G7 begins!
At the C mea C7 culpa" he F beats his breast,
And in C broken murmers he G7 speaks the C rest.
C At the siege of Ross did my G7 father fall,
And at Gorey my loving C brothers [G7 all.
I amC all that is C7 left of my F name and race;
I will C go to Wexford and G7 take their C place.
C I cursed three times since last G7 Easter day;
At mass time once I C went to G7 play;
I C passed the C7 churchyard one F day in haste,
And C forgot to pray for my G7 poor mother's Crest.
C I bear no hate against G7 living thing,
But I love my country C above theG7 king.
So C bless me C7 now Father and F let me go
To C die, if God has G7 ordained itC so."
C The priest said nought, but a G7 rustling noise
Made the youth look above in C wild sur-G7-prise;
The C robes were C7 off, and in F scarlet there
Sat a C yoeman captain with G7 fiery C glare.
C With fiery glare and with G7 fury hoarse,
Instead of blessing, he C breathed a G7 curse
"'Twas a C good C7 thought, boy, to F come here to strive,
For C one short hour is yourG7 time to C live.
C Upon yon river three G7 tenders float;
The Priest's in one — if he C isn't G7 shot!
We C hold his C7 house for our F Lord the King,
And, C amen I say, may all G7 traitors C swing!"
C At Geneva Barracks that G7 young man died,
And at Passage they have hisC bodyG7 laid.
Good C people who C7 live in F peace and joy,
Breathe a C pray'r, shed a tear for the G7 Croppy C* Boy