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 "Ould Ireland Free"



It was early early in the night

The yeoman cavalry gave me a fright

The yeoman cavalry was my downfall

And taken was I 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