Lyr Add: Boys of Wexford

Subject: Lyr Add: BOYS OF WEXFORD
From: Tim Rossiter
Date: 21 Mar 97 - 11:15 AM

Attn: Dick Greenhaus

Dick,
Last year when we traded "Boys of Wexford" lyrics, I only knew the first two verses of this version. I just found the rest of the song by Robert Dwyer Joyce, M.D. I don't know much about Joyce except that he was forced to flee Ireland. I can see why I never heard the other 3 verses before. I re-entered the entire song for those who may be interested,
Tim

In comes the captain's daughter, the captain of the Yeos,
Saying: "Brave United Irish men, we'll ne'er again be foes.
A thousand pounds I'll give you, and fly from home with thee,
And dress myself in man's attire, and fight for liberty!"

CHORUS: We are the boys of Wexford, who fought with heart and hand,
To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land.

And when we left the cabin, boys, we left in right good will,
To see our friends and neighbours that were at Vinegar Hill!
A young man from our ranks, a cannon he let go;
He slapt it into Lord Mountjoy- a tyrant he laid low.

We bravely fought and conquered at Ross and Wexford town;
And if we failed to keep them, 'twas drink that brought us down.
We had no drink beside us on Tubber'neering's day,
Depending on the long bright pike and well it worked its way!

They came into the country our blood to waste and spill;
But let them weep for Wexford and think of Oulart Hill!
'Twas drink that still betrayed us; of them we had no fear;
For every man could do his part like Forth and Shelmalier.

My curse upon all drinking! It made our hearts full sore;
For bravery won each battle, but drink lost evermore;
And, if for want for leaders, we lost at Vinegar Hill,
We're ready for another fight and love our country still.

Subject: RE: New verses-Boys of Wexford
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Mar 97 - 11:56 AM

thanx

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BOYS OF WEXFORD (Robert Dwyer Joyce)
From: Gene Graham
Date: 23 Mar 97 - 08:25 PM

And here's yet another version of THE BOYS OF WEXFORD. Looks like there's about as many variations of it as there are of Barbara Allen.


THE BOYS OF WEXFORD
Robert Dwyer Joyce

In comes the captain's daughter, the captain of the Yeos,
Saying; "Brave United Irish men, we'll ne'er again be foes.
A thousand pounds I'll bring, if you will fly from home with me,
And dress myself in man's attire, and fight for liberty."

CHORUS: We are the boys of Wexford, who fought with heart and hand,
To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land.

"I want no gold, my maiden fair, to fly from home with thee;
Your shining eyes will be my prize - more dear than gold to me.
I want no gold to nerve my arm, to do a true man's part,
To free my native land I'd gladly give the red drops of my heart."

And when we left our cabins, boys, we left with right good will,
To see our friends and neighbours that were at Vinegar Hill!
A young man from our Irish ranks, a cannon he let go;
He slapt it into Lord Mountjoy - a tyrant he laid low!

We bravely fought and conquered at Ross and Wexford town;
Three Bullet Gate for years to come will speak for our renown;
Through Walpole's horse and Walpole's foot on Tubberneering's day,
Depending on the long, bright pike, we cut our gory way.

And Oulart's name shall be their shame, who still we ne'er did fear,
For every man could do his part like Forth and Shelmalier!
And if for want of leaders, we lost at Vinegar Hill,
We're ready for another fight, and love our country still!

SOURCE: SONGS OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC, Jan 1972.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Boys of Wexford
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 07:44 PM

THE BOYS OF WEXFORD can be seen in Ballads, Romances, and Songs by Robert Dwyer Joyce (Dublin: James Duffy, 1861), page 295.

The version posted above by Tim Rossiter agrees word for word with the version in Joyce's book.

However, Joyce appends a footnote: "The fragments of an old song." Does that mean he is not claiming to have written it himself?