The chords to The Croppy Boy are presented in the key of G. The lyrics were written by William B. McBurney and tell the tragic story of a young man who was on his way to battle during the 1798 uprising. There is a better known version of The Croppy Boy made famous by the Dubliners and the Clancy Brothers.
Use our chord converter to play the song in other keys.
Chord Converter
Our chord converter enables you to play this song in any key.
The youth has entered an empty hall
With lonely sounds does his light foot fall
And the gloomy chamber is cold and bare
With a vested priest in a lonely chair
The youth has knelt to tell his sins
“Nomine Dei” the youth begins
At “mea culpa” he beats his breast
In broken murmurs he speaks the rest
“At the siege of Ross did my father fall
And at Gorey my loving brothers all
I alone am left of my name and race
I will go to Wexford to take their place.”
“I cursed three times since last Easter Day
At mass time once I went to play
I passed the churchyard on day in haste
And forgot to pray for my mother’s rest.”
“I bear no hate against living things
But I love my country above my king
Now bless me father and let me go
To die if God ordained it so.”
The priest said naught, but a rustling noise
Made the youth look up in a wild surprise
The robes were off and in scarlet there
Sat a Yeoman captain with a fiery glare
With fiery glare and with fury hoarse
Instead of a blessing he breathed a curse
“’Twas a good thought boy, to come here and shrive
For one short hour is your time to live.”
“Upon yon river three tenders float
The priest is in one if not shot
We hold this house for our lord and king
And amen say I, may all traitors swing.”
At Geneva Barracks that young man died
And at Passage they have his body laid
Good people who live in peace and joy
Now breath a prayer for the croppy boy
The Croppy Boy – alternative lyrics and chords print version
The youth has entered an empty hall
With lonely sounds does his light foot fall
And the gloomy chamber is cold and bare
With a vested priest in a lonely chair
The youth has knelt to tell his sins
“Nomine Dei” the youth begins
At “mea culpa” he beats his breast
In broken murmurs he speaks the rest
“At the siege of Ross did my father fall
And at Gorey my loving brothers all
I alone am left of my name and race
I will go to Wexford to take their place.”
“I cursed three times since last Easter Day
At mass time once I went to play
I passed the churchyard on day in haste
And forgot to pray for my mother’s rest.”
“I bear no hate against living things
But I love my country above my king
Now bless me father and let me go
To die if God ordained it so.”
The priest said naught, but a rustling noise
Made the youth look up in a wild surprise
The robes were off and in scarlet there
Sat a Yeoman captain with a fiery glare
With fiery glare and with fury hoarse
Instead of a blessing he breathed a curse
“’Twas a good thought boy, to come here and shrive
For one short hour is your time to live.”
“Upon yon river three tenders float
The priest is in one if not shot
We hold this house for our lord and king
And amen say I, may all traitors swing.”
At Geneva Barracks that young man died
And at Passage they have his body laid
Good people who live in peace and joy
Now breath a prayer for the croppy boy
