'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