This week in Northern Ireland, there was the traditional Protestant celebration of the Battle of the Boyne. This battle has more than just significance for Northern Ireland - with the victory of William III, on July 12, 1690, the foundation of Constitutional Monarchy as we know it in Great Britain and the Commonwealth was laid. A victory for James II would have seen the attempted return of absolute monarchy.
Thus it is with great pleasure that I mention a few Protestant marching songs - some of which were not sung in Northern Ireland this year because of their provocative nature.
Croppies lie down
We soldiers of Erin, so proud of the name
We'll raise on the rebels and Frenchmen our fame;
We'll fight to the last in the honest old cause,
And guard our religion, our freedom and laws;
We'll fight for our country, our King and his crown,
And make all the traitors and croppies lie down.
Down, down, croppies lie down.
The rebels so bold, when they've none to oppose,
To houses and haystacks are terrible foes;
They murder poor parsons and likewise their wives,
At the sight of a soldier they run for their lives;
Whennever we march over country and town
In ditches and cellars the croppies lie down.
Down, down, croppies lie down.
In Dublin the traitors were ready to rise
And murder was seen in their lowering eyes
With poison, the cowards, they aimed to succeed
And thousands were doomed by the assassins to bleed
But the yeoman advanced, of rebels the dread
And each croppy soon hid his dastardly head
Down, down, croppies lie down.
United in blood to the country's disgrace,
They secretly shoot those they dare not to face;
But whenever we catch the sly rogues in the field,
A handful of soldiers makes hundreds to yield;
The cowards collect but to raise our renown,
For as soon as we fire the croppies lie down.
Down, down, croppies lie down
While thus in this war so unmanly they wage
On women, dear women, they turn their damn'd rage;
We'll fly to protect the dear creatures from harm,
They'll be sure to find safety when clasped in our arms;
On love in a soldier no maiden will frown,
But bless the brave troops that made croppies lie down.
Down, down, croppies lie down.
Should France e'er attempt, by fraud or by guile,
Her forces to land on Erin's green isle,
We'll show that they n'er can make free soldiers,slaves,
They shall only possess our green fields for their graves;
Our country's applauses our triumphs will crown,
Whilst with their French brothers the croppies lie down.
Down, down, croppies lie down.
When wars and when dangers again shall be o'er
And peace with her blessings revisit our shore;
When arms we relinquish, no longer to roam
With pride will our families welcome us home:
We'll drink in full bumpers past troubles to drown
A health to the lads that made croppies lie down.
Down, down, croppies lie down.
Oh, croppies ye'd better be quiet and still
Ye shan't have your liberty, do what ye will
As long as salt water is formed in the deep
A foot on the necks of the croppy we'll keep
And drink, as in bumpers past troubles we drown,
A health to the lads that made croppies lie down
Down, down, croppies lie down.
[Note: despite Nationalist propaganda to the contrary - the term "croppy" applies to rebels (Catholic and Protestant) in the 1798 rebellion who closely cropped their hair in sympathy with the French revolutionists.]
The Protestant Boys
The Protestant Boys are loyal and true
Stout hearted in battle and stout-handed too
The Protestant Boys are true to the last
And faithful and peaceful when danger has passed
And Oh! they bear and proudly wear
The colours that floated o'er many a fray
Where cannons were flashing
And sabers were clashing
The Protestant Boys still carried the day.
When James half a bigot, and more of a knave
With masses and Frenchmen the land would enslave
The Protestant Boys for liberty drew
And showed with the Orange the banner of Blue
And Derry well their might can tell
Who first in their ranks did the Orange display
The Boyne had no shyers and Aughrim no flyers
And Protestant Boys still carried the day.
When treason was rampant and traitors were strong
And law was defied by a vile rebel throng
When thousands were banded the throne to cast down
The Protestants rallied and stood by the Crown
And oft in fight, by day and night
They countered the rebels in many a fray
Where red pikes were bristling
And bullets were whistling
The Protestant Boys still carried the day.
And still does the fame of their glory remain
Unclouded by age and undimmed by a stain
And ever and ever their cause well uphold
The cause of the true and the trusted and bold
And scorn to yield, or quit the field
While over our heads the old colors shall play
And traitors shall tremble
When' er we assemble
For Protestant Boys shall carry the day.
The Protestant Boys are loyal and true
Though fashions are changed and the loyal are few
The Protestant Boys are true to the last
Though cowards belie them when danger has past
Aye still we stand, a loyal band
And reck not the liars whatever they say
For let the drums rattle
The summons to battle
The Protestant Boys must carry the day.
The Sash
Sure I'm an Ulster Orangeman, from Erin's isle I came,
To see my British brethren all of honour and of fame,
And to tell them of my forefathers who fought in days of yore,
That I might have the right to wear, the sash my father wore!
(Chorus) It is old but it is beautiful, and its colours they are fine,
It was worn at Derry, Aughrim, Enniskillen and the Boyne,
My father wore it as a youth in bygone days of yore,
And it's on the Twelth I love to wear the sash my father wore!
For those brave men who crossed the Boyne have not fought or died in vain,
Our Unity, Religion, Laws, and Freedom to maintain,
If the call should come we'll follow the drum, and cross that river once more,
That tomorrow's Ulsterman may wear the sash my father wore!
And when some day, across the sea to Antrim's shore you come,
We'll welcome you in royal style, to the sound of flute and drum,
And Ulster's hills shall echo still, from Rathin to Dromore,
As we sing again the loyal strain of the sash my father wore!
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