Another great song of 1798
Some time ago I posted this song about my ancestor, Henry Joy McCracken- the Protestant who helped found the United Irishmen and who led the Rebellion of 1798 in Ulster, only to be betrayed and executed following his failed assault on the city of Antrim.
Here's another great song of 1798: The Boys of Wexford, sung by the great Irish tenor John McCormack. This was John F. Kennedy's favorite song. A very few might recognize it as the theme of the short-lived 1960's TV series Profiles in Courage, based on JFK's Pulitzer Prize winning book.
I really like this tune, to which any hymn can be sung which is normally sung to the tune "Aurelia" (The Church's One Foundation being the best known example).
ADDENDUM: Since McCormack can be a little hard to understand, here are the words to The Boys of Wexford ("Yeos," btw, is short for "yeomen").
And yes... it contains an ethnic stereotype which raises my eyebrows a bit, too:
Here's another great song of 1798: The Boys of Wexford, sung by the great Irish tenor John McCormack. This was John F. Kennedy's favorite song. A very few might recognize it as the theme of the short-lived 1960's TV series Profiles in Courage, based on JFK's Pulitzer Prize winning book.
I really like this tune, to which any hymn can be sung which is normally sung to the tune "Aurelia" (The Church's One Foundation being the best known example).
ADDENDUM: Since McCormack can be a little hard to understand, here are the words to The Boys of Wexford ("Yeos," btw, is short for "yeomen").
And yes... it contains an ethnic stereotype which raises my eyebrows a bit, too:
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 Oulast Hill!
'Twas drink that still betrayed us
Of them we had no fear;
For everyman 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!
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