C F
It was early, early in the spring
Dm G7
The birds did whistle and sweetly sing
C G7 Am
Changing their notes from tree to tree
F G7 C
And the song they sang was "Ould Ireland Free"
[Verse 2]
C F
As I was walking up Wexford Street
Dm G7
My own first cousin I chanced to meet
C G7 Am
My own first cousin did me betray
F G7 C
And for one bare guinea swore my life away
[Verse 3]
C F
It was early early all in the night
Dm G7
The yeoman cavalry gave me a fright
C G7 Am
The yeoman cavalry was my downfall
F G7 C
And taken was I by Lord Cornwall
[Verse 4]
C F
As I was walking up Wexford Hill
Dm G7
Who could blame me to cry my fill?
C G7 Am
I looked behind, and I looked before
F G7 C
But my aged mother I shall see no more
[Verse 5]
C F
And when I stood on the Scaffold high
Dm G7
My own dear father was standing by
C G7 Am
Well, my own dear father did me deny
F G7 C
And the name he gave me was the Croppy Boy
[Verse 6]
C F
In Dungannon Town now this boy died
Dm G7
And in Dungannon Town does his body lie
C G7 Am
So all your strangers that do pass by
F G7 C
Just go shed a tear for the Croppy Boy