Boulavogue
Notation:
Standard Notation
ABC Notation
Mandolin Tablature
traditional
PDF Files:
--- choose file type ---
Standard Notation
Mandolin Tablature
Song Sheet
Irish
Play
MIDI
No audio
available
Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
View
notes
Lyrics:
At Boulavogue as the sun was setting
O'er the bright May meadows of Shelmalier,
A rebel hand set the heather blazing
And brought the neighbours from far and near.
Then Father Murphy from old Kilcormack
Spurred up the rocks with a warning cry:
'Arm! Arm!' he cried, 'For I've come to lead you;
For Ireland's freedom we'll fight or die!'
He led us on against the coming soldiers,
And the cowardly yeomen we put to flight:
'Twas at the Harrow the boys of Wexford
Showed Bookey's regiment how men could fight.
Look out for hirelings, King George of England;
Search every kingdom where breathes a slave,
For Father Murphy of County Wexford
Sweeps o'er the land like a mighty wave.
We took Camolin and Enniscorthy
And Wexford storming drove out our foes
'Twas at Slieve Coilte our pikes were reeking
With the crimson blood of the beaten Yeos.
At Tubberneering and Ballyellis
Full many a Hessian lay in his gore,
Ah! Father Murphy had aid come over
The green flag floated from shore to shore!
At Vinegar Hill, o'er the pleasant Slaney
Our heroes vainly stood back to back,
and the Yeos at Tullow took Father Murphy
and burned his body upon a rack.
God grant you glory, brave Father Murphy
And open Heaven to all your men,
The cause that called you may call tomorrow
In another fight for the Green again.
"Boolavogue" is an Irish ballad about the victories of Father John Murphy, parish priest of the<br> village of Boolavogue in County Wexford as he led his parishioners in routing the Camolin Cavalry<br> on May 26 1798 at Oulart Hill, when a rebel gathering of between 4,000 and 5,000 massacred a<br> detachment of 110 militia sent from Wexford town to stamp out the spreading rebellion in County<br> Wexford. The Wexford insurgents were eventually defeated at the Battle of Vinegar Hill on<br> June 21st.<br> For his participation in the uprising, Father Murphy<br> was tortured, flogged, decapitated, burned, and ultimately, had his head put on a stake to warn<br> his countrymen against further rebellion.<br> The song "Boolavogue" was written in his honor in 1898 by Patrick Joseph McCall, who set the<br> lyrics to an ancient Irish air called "Eochaill". The melody is also used for the Australian song<br> "Moreton Bay".<br> It was recorded by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem and The Irish Rovers.<br>
Click
here
for a full page view.