It was early, early all in the Spring When the birds did whistle and sweetly sing, Changing their notes all from tree to tree And the song they sang was: Old Ireland free! Oh as I went walkin` up Wexford street Oh me own first cousin I changed to meet Well me own first cousin did me betray And for one bare guinnea sold me life away It was early early all in the night, When the yeoman cavalry gave me a fright; Well the yeoman cavalry was my downfall, And taken was I by Lord Cornwall. And as I went walking up Wexford Hill, Now who could blame me to cry me fill? I looked behind, and I looked before, And my aged mother I`ll see no more And when I stood on the scaffold high My own dear father was standing by Well me own dear father did me deny And the name he gave me was the croppy boy In Dungannon town now this boy died In Dungannon town does his body lie So all you strangers that do pa** by Go shed a tear for the croppy boy