Classic Poem

My dear Orange Brothers, have you heard of the news,
How the treacherous Frenchmen our gulls to amuse,
The troops that last April they promised to send,
At length at Killala they ventured to land.

Good Croppies but don't be too bold now,
Lest you should all be stowed in the hold now,
Then to Bot'ny you'd trudge, I am told now,
And a sweet orange lily for me

But now that they've landed they find their mistake,
For in place of the Croppies they meet the brave Lake,
He soon will convince them that our orange and blue,
Can ne'er be subdued by their plundering crew.
Good Croppies then don't, etc.

That false traitor Emmett, more ungrateful than Hell,
With McNiven and Arthur, though fast in their cell;
What they formerly swore they have dared to deny,
And the secret committee have charged with a lie !
Good Croppies then don't, etc.

But as, by this falsehood, it is clear they intend
To induce us poor peasants the French to befriend,
We shall soon, I hope, see them high dangling in air,
‘Twould be murd'ring the loyal such miscreants to spare.
Good Croppies then don't, etc.

On the trees at the camp Crop Lawless intended,
To hang up all those who their country defended,
As the scene is reversed, a good joke it will be,
In the place of dear Camden to put up those three.
Good Croppies then don't, etc.

Judgement being entered on that bloody Bond,
Execution should follow, the people contend,
Why stay it, say they, when engagements they've broken ?
The direct'ry denied every word they had spoken.
Good Croppies then don't, etc.

Then gird on your sabres, my brave Orangemen all,
For the Croppies are down, and the Frenchmen shall fall;
Let each lodge sally forth, from one to nine hundred,
These freebooters ere long with the dead shall be numbered
Good Croppies then don't, etc.