Ukeadoodle

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

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