Look Who it Was Random video

Guitar: The Croppy Boy

2,554 views · Published 11 May 2009 · 5:12 · Indexed 27 October 2026

Channel: threelegsoman · 2009 · Music

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Inspired by the French Revolution, in 1798 Irish patriots rose up against the British Crown. Like the French, many of the Rebels had their hair cut short and were known as 'Croppy Boys' . This song tells the sad story of one such who was captured and executed by the British Yeomen who used a ruse to do so.
James Joyce, the famous Irish author, was also an accomplished musician who liked nothing better than to sit down at a piano in a pub and sing Rebel Songs. In his book 'Ulysses' his protagonist confesses that he passed the churchyard without saying a prayer for his mother's rest. This was taken from a verse in this song. 
The song itself was written by Carroll Malone. The tune I have used is the one the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem use in their shorter version of this same song.
I dedicate it to my new friends in Wexford and elsewhere in Ireland and their friends too. Especially I dedicate it to Trexty2 and her sister Dina.

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