The Boys Of Wexford Lyrics And Chords
The Boys Of Wexford Easy Guitar Chords And Lyrics. Irish Rebel Song from Co. Wexford Ireland- The youtube video is of John McCormack [Tommy Byrne Singing] the song commemorates the battle of 1798 and was written by Patrick Joseph McColl. Other songs from Wexford that talk of Vinegar Hill include Boolavogue Song which is likely the best known Wexford song of them all .
The Boys of Wexford
The major surprise of 1798 was rebellion in Wexford. Never considered a hotbed of United Irish activity, the county had been essentially written off by the United Directory and, therefore, by the authorities. The only regular troops in the area were at the fort of Duncannon, guarding the east side of Waterford Har- bour, and at New Ross, twelve miles north at the junction of the Rivers Nore and Barrow. On the eve of the Wexford rising, the Crown had small militia garrisons in Enniscorthy, Gorey, Newtownbarry (modern Bunclody), the town of Wexford, and just across the Wicklow border at Arklow. The major Crown presence in County Wexford was the yeomanry.
Shortly before the Appointed Day, Dublin Castle dis- covered papers signed by Lord Edward Fitzgerald indicating that the town of Wexford could be used as a contingency landing site by the French. The authorities reacted with dispatch. The local yeoman companies were quickly supplemented by the North Cork Militia, and a savage search for weapons and Unitedmen was initiated. Half-hanging, the flogging triangle, and the "pitched-cap torture" were used indiscriminately on the be wildered peasantry."
The peasants of Wexford, unlike the intellectual United Irish leaders, had no real knowledge of the goals of the French Revolution. They were perhaps insufficiently sophisticated to be stirred by such ideals as Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité, but they had no trouble choosing a side. Some began to cut their hair short in the style of the French citizen who had so effectively destroyed the ancient régime. This vague sign of sympathy with the French Revolution was considered more than a small sign of defiance by the yeomanry and militia; it was a sure sign of treason. The Protestants took to using the term "croppy" as a general denigrating description of the Catholic peasant."
The major surprise of 1798 was rebellion in Wexford. Never considered a hotbed of United Irish activity, the county had been essentially written off by the United Directory and, therefore, by the authorities. The only regular troops in the area were at the fort of Duncannon, guarding the east side of Waterford Har- bour, and at New Ross, twelve miles north at the junction of the Rivers Nore and Barrow. On the eve of the Wexford rising, the Crown had small militia garrisons in Enniscorthy, Gorey, Newtownbarry (modern Bunclody), the town of Wexford, and just across the Wicklow border at Arklow. The major Crown presence in County Wexford was the yeomanry.
Shortly before the Appointed Day, Dublin Castle dis- covered papers signed by Lord Edward Fitzgerald indicating that the town of Wexford could be used as a contingency landing site by the French. The authorities reacted with dispatch. The local yeoman companies were quickly supplemented by the North Cork Militia, and a savage search for weapons and Unitedmen was initiated. Half-hanging, the flogging triangle, and the "pitched-cap torture" were used indiscriminately on the be wildered peasantry."
The peasants of Wexford, unlike the intellectual United Irish leaders, had no real knowledge of the goals of the French Revolution. They were perhaps insufficiently sophisticated to be stirred by such ideals as Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité, but they had no trouble choosing a side. Some began to cut their hair short in the style of the French citizen who had so effectively destroyed the ancient régime. This vague sign of sympathy with the French Revolution was considered more than a small sign of defiance by the yeomanry and militia; it was a sure sign of treason. The Protestants took to using the term "croppy" as a general denigrating description of the Catholic peasant."
The sheer valour of the Wexford rabble-in-arms surprised the Crown in nearly every engagement. Faced by troops led by professional British officers, however, Irish courage was not enough. The lack of comparable trained and disciplined leader- ship within the insurgency proved disastrous.
All three rebel columns in County Wexford squandered tactical victories when they failed to exploit them: in New Ross, the battle-weary insurgents had rested at the instant that pursuit of the fleeing British would have gained the field; in both New-
townbarry and Gorey, leaderless mobs had engaged in wild drinking and barbaric pillaging, giving their beaten foes time to re- group. There was little the Wexford pikemen had not done when asked by their officers; the misfortune arose from the lack of asking.
The ballad is credited to Robert Dwyer Joyce.
In [G] comes the [C] captain's [D] daughter,
The captain [D] of the [Em] Yeos,
Saying: [G] Brave [C] United [D] Irishmen,
We'll [G] ne'er a[D]gain be [G] foes.
A [C] thousand pounds I'll [G] bring
If you will [C] fly from [G] home with [Em] me,
And [G] dress myself in [C] man's [D] attire
And [G] fight for [D] liber[G]ty.
[chorus]
We [C] are the boys of [G] Wexford,
Who [C] fought with [G] heart and [Em] hand
To [G] burst in twain the [C] galling [D] chain
And [G] free our [D] native [G] land.
I want no gold, my maiden fair,
To fly from home with thee;
You 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 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! Chorus:
We bravely fought and conquered
At Ross and Wexford town;
Three Bullet Gate for years to come
Will speak of 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,
Whose steel 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!
“The Boys of Wexford,” a proud Irish rebel song that sounds great in G Major on acoustic guitar.
Here’s the complete chord chart with a clear strumming pattern and chords for all verses.
🎵 The Boys of Wexford
Key: G Major
Tempo: Moderate march (~85–95 BPM)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎸 Strumming Pattern (March / Folk Ballad Style)
Down – Down-Up – Up-Down-Up
or for a stronger beat: ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Keep it steady and driving, emphasizing beats 1 and 3.
If you prefer a waltz-like sway, try Bass – Down – Up – Down – Up.
☘️ Verse 1
In [G] comes the [C] captain's [D] daughter,
The captain [D] of the [Em] Yeos,
e|-------3-----------0-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----0---0-------1---1-------3---3-------3---3-------0---0-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--2-----------3------------------------0------------------------2--------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------0--------------------|
G C D D Em
Saying: [G] Brave [C] United [D] Irishmen,
We'll [G] ne'er a[D]gain be [G] foes.
e|-------3-----------0-----------2-----------3-----------2-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------1---1-------3---3-------0---0-------3---3-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0|
D|--0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--2-----------3------------------------2------------------------2--------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G C D G D G
A [C] thousand pounds I'll [G] bring
If you will [C] fly from [G] home with [Em] me,
e|-------0-----------3-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--2-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3-----------2-----------3-----------2-----------2-----------2----------|
E|-------------------------------------3------------------------0--------|
C G C G Em
And [G] dress myself in [C] man's [D] attire
And [G] fight for [D] liber[G]ty.
e|-------3-----------0-----------2-----------3-----------2-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------1---1-------3---3-------0---0-------3---3-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0|
D|--0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--2-----------3------------------------2------------------------2--------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G C D G D G
🎵 Chorus
We [C] are the boys of [G] Wexford,
Who [C] fought with [G] heart and [Em] hand
e|-------0-----------3-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--2-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3-----------2-----------3-----------2-----------2-----------2----------|
E|-------------------------------------3------------------------0--------|
C G C G Em
To [G] burst in twain the [C] galling [D] chain
And [G] free our [D] native [G] land.
e|-------3-----------0-----------2-----------3-----------2-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------1---1-------3---3-------0---0-------3---3-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0|
D|--0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--2-----------3------------------------2------------------------2--------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G C D G D G
🎵 Chord Reference
G 320003
C x32010
D xx0232
Em 022000
☘️ Performance Tips
Keep a march-like pulse — steady downstrokes or alternating bass for drive.
In verses: soft fingerpicking or light strum.
In chorus: build energy with full strums.
Emphasize downbeats (1 & 3) for that Irish marching feel.
Finish each verse/chorus on a ringing G chord for resonance.
Verse 1
In [G] comes the [C] captain's [D] daughter,
The captain [D] of the [Em] Yeos,
Saying: [G] Brave [C] United [D] Irishmen,
We'll [G] ne'er a[D]gain be [G] foes.
A [C] thousand pounds I'll [G] bring
If you will [C] fly from [G] home with [Em] me,
And [G] dress myself in [C] man's [D] attire
And [G] fight for [D] liber[G]ty.
Chorus
We [C] are the boys of [G] Wexford,
Who [C] fought with [G] heart and [Em] hand
To [G] burst in twain the [C] galling [D] chain
And [G] free our [D] native [G] land.
Verse 2
I [G] want no gold, my [C] maiden [D] fair,
To [G] fly from [D] home with [Em] thee;
Your [G] shining eyes will [C] be my [D] prize --
More [G] dear than [D] gold to [G] me.
I [C] want no gold to [G] nerve my arm
To [C] do a [G] true man's [Em] part --
To [G] free my land I'd [C] gladly [D] give
The [G] red drops [D] of my [G] heart.
Verse 3
And [G] when we left our [C] cabins, [D] boys,
We [G] left with [D] right good [Em] will
To [G] see our friends and [C] neighbours
That [D] were at Vinegar [G] Hill.
A [C] young man from our [G] Irish ranks
A [C] cannon [G] he let [Em] go;
He [G] slapt it into [C] Lord Mount[D]joy --
A [G] tyrant [D] he laid [G] low!
Chorus
We [C] are the boys of [G] Wexford,
Who [C] fought with [G] heart and [Em] hand
To [G] burst in twain the [C] galling [D] chain
And [G] free our [D] native [G] land.
Verse 4
We [G] bravely fought and [C] con[D]quered
At [G] Ross and [D] Wexford [Em] town;
Three [G] Bullet Gate for [C] years to come
Will [D] speak of our re[G]nown.
Through [C] Walpole's horse and [G] Walpole's foot
On [C] Tubber[G]neering's [Em] day,
De[G]pending on the [C] long, bright [D] pike,
We [G] cut our [D] gory [G] way.
Verse 5
And [G] Oulart's name shall [C] be their [D] shame,
Whose [G] steel we [D] ne'er did [Em] fear.
For [G] every man could [C] do his part
Like [D] Forth and Shelma[G]lier!
And [C] if for want of [G] leaders
We [C] lost at [G] Vinegar [Em] Hill,
We're [G] ready for a[C]nother [D] fight,
And [G] love our [D] country [G] still!
🎸 Optional Ending / Pub Finish
Slow down the final line:
We [C] are the boys of [G] Wexford,
Who [C] fought with [G] heart and [Em] hand,
To [G] burst in twain the [C] galling [D] chain
And [G] free our [D] native [G] land!
End with a big, sustained G chord.
“The Boys of Wexford,” a proud Irish rebel song that sounds great in G Major on acoustic guitar.
Here’s the complete chord chart with a clear strumming pattern and chords for all verses.
🎵 The Boys of Wexford
Key: G Major
Tempo: Moderate march (~85–95 BPM)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎸 Strumming Pattern (March / Folk Ballad Style)
Down – Down-Up – Up-Down-Up
or for a stronger beat: ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Keep it steady and driving, emphasizing beats 1 and 3.
If you prefer a waltz-like sway, try Bass – Down – Up – Down – Up.
☘️ Verse 1
In [G] comes the [C] captain's [D] daughter,
The captain [D] of the [Em] Yeos,
e|-------3-----------0-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----0---0-------1---1-------3---3-------3---3-------0---0-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--2-----------3------------------------0------------------------2--------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------0--------------------|
G C D D Em
Saying: [G] Brave [C] United [D] Irishmen,
We'll [G] ne'er a[D]gain be [G] foes.
e|-------3-----------0-----------2-----------3-----------2-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------1---1-------3---3-------0---0-------3---3-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0|
D|--0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--2-----------3------------------------2------------------------2--------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G C D G D G
A [C] thousand pounds I'll [G] bring
If you will [C] fly from [G] home with [Em] me,
e|-------0-----------3-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--2-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3-----------2-----------3-----------2-----------2-----------2----------|
E|-------------------------------------3------------------------0--------|
C G C G Em
And [G] dress myself in [C] man's [D] attire
And [G] fight for [D] liber[G]ty.
e|-------3-----------0-----------2-----------3-----------2-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------1---1-------3---3-------0---0-------3---3-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0|
D|--0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--2-----------3------------------------2------------------------2--------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G C D G D G
🎵 Chorus
We [C] are the boys of [G] Wexford,
Who [C] fought with [G] heart and [Em] hand
e|-------0-----------3-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--2-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3-----------2-----------3-----------2-----------2-----------2----------|
E|-------------------------------------3------------------------0--------|
C G C G Em
To [G] burst in twain the [C] galling [D] chain
And [G] free our [D] native [G] land.
e|-------3-----------0-----------2-----------3-----------2-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------1---1-------3---3-------0---0-------3---3-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0|
D|--0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--2-----------3------------------------2------------------------2--------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G C D G D G
🎵 Chord Reference
G 320003
C x32010
D xx0232
Em 022000
☘️ Performance Tips
Keep a march-like pulse — steady downstrokes or alternating bass for drive.
In verses: soft fingerpicking or light strum.
In chorus: build energy with full strums.
Emphasize downbeats (1 & 3) for that Irish marching feel.
Finish each verse/chorus on a ringing G chord for resonance.
Verse 1
In [G] comes the [C] captain's [D] daughter,
The captain [D] of the [Em] Yeos,
Saying: [G] Brave [C] United [D] Irishmen,
We'll [G] ne'er a[D]gain be [G] foes.
A [C] thousand pounds I'll [G] bring
If you will [C] fly from [G] home with [Em] me,
And [G] dress myself in [C] man's [D] attire
And [G] fight for [D] liber[G]ty.
Chorus
We [C] are the boys of [G] Wexford,
Who [C] fought with [G] heart and [Em] hand
To [G] burst in twain the [C] galling [D] chain
And [G] free our [D] native [G] land.
Verse 2
I [G] want no gold, my [C] maiden [D] fair,
To [G] fly from [D] home with [Em] thee;
Your [G] shining eyes will [C] be my [D] prize --
More [G] dear than [D] gold to [G] me.
I [C] want no gold to [G] nerve my arm
To [C] do a [G] true man's [Em] part --
To [G] free my land I'd [C] gladly [D] give
The [G] red drops [D] of my [G] heart.
Verse 3
And [G] when we left our [C] cabins, [D] boys,
We [G] left with [D] right good [Em] will
To [G] see our friends and [C] neighbours
That [D] were at Vinegar [G] Hill.
A [C] young man from our [G] Irish ranks
A [C] cannon [G] he let [Em] go;
He [G] slapt it into [C] Lord Mount[D]joy --
A [G] tyrant [D] he laid [G] low!
Chorus
We [C] are the boys of [G] Wexford,
Who [C] fought with [G] heart and [Em] hand
To [G] burst in twain the [C] galling [D] chain
And [G] free our [D] native [G] land.
Verse 4
We [G] bravely fought and [C] con[D]quered
At [G] Ross and [D] Wexford [Em] town;
Three [G] Bullet Gate for [C] years to come
Will [D] speak of our re[G]nown.
Through [C] Walpole's horse and [G] Walpole's foot
On [C] Tubber[G]neering's [Em] day,
De[G]pending on the [C] long, bright [D] pike,
We [G] cut our [D] gory [G] way.
Verse 5
And [G] Oulart's name shall [C] be their [D] shame,
Whose [G] steel we [D] ne'er did [Em] fear.
For [G] every man could [C] do his part
Like [D] Forth and Shelma[G]lier!
And [C] if for want of [G] leaders
We [C] lost at [G] Vinegar [Em] Hill,
We're [G] ready for a[C]nother [D] fight,
And [G] love our [D] country [G] still!
🎸 Optional Ending / Pub Finish
Slow down the final line:
We [C] are the boys of [G] Wexford,
Who [C] fought with [G] heart and [Em] hand,
To [G] burst in twain the [C] galling [D] chain
And [G] free our [D] native [G] land!
End with a big, sustained G chord.
Information On The Boys Of Wexford.
The song is a traditional ballad collected by
Robert Dwyer Joyce (1830-iris Weston Joyce)
born in Glenosheen, Co. Limerick. who
wrote The Wind That Shakes The
Barley Song . While studying
medicine he was a writer and collector of songs
and ballads he supported himself by writing
for the 'The Nation' newspaper,and many of his
poems and ballads were printed in the newspaper.
he graduated from Queens College Cork in 1865.
He became professor of English at the Catholic
University.According to Joyce he used to sing
this song with other words as a child and only
two of the original verses were incorporated
in this ballad, The original words are said to
be the work of a Wexford rebel.
First published in 1872 in his book
''Ancient Irish Music''.
The song is a traditional ballad collected by
Robert Dwyer Joyce (1830-iris Weston Joyce)
born in Glenosheen, Co. Limerick. who
wrote The Wind That Shakes The
Barley Song . While studying
medicine he was a writer and collector of songs
and ballads he supported himself by writing
for the 'The Nation' newspaper,and many of his
poems and ballads were printed in the newspaper.
he graduated from Queens College Cork in 1865.
He became professor of English at the Catholic
University.According to Joyce he used to sing
this song with other words as a child and only
two of the original verses were incorporated
in this ballad, The original words are said to
be the work of a Wexford rebel.
First published in 1872 in his book
''Ancient Irish Music''.
The boys of Wexford lyrics
