Come All You Warriors facts for kids
Come All You Warriors (also known as Father Murphy) is an old Irish song called a ballad. Ballads are like story-songs that tell about important events or people. This song is about the Irish Rebellion of 1798, a big fight for freedom in Ireland. It mainly tells the story of Father John Murphy, a brave priest from Boulavogue who was a leader in the rebellion in County Wexford.
The song was written just a few years after the 1798 Rising happened. It even helped inspire another famous song called "Boulavogue", which was written 100 years later for the rebellion's anniversary.
A book called Memoirs of Joseph Holt, general of the Irish rebels in 1798 mentions this song. Joseph Holt was a leader in the rebellion. He wrote that he heard parts of the song in 1836 while traveling in County Wexford. The song showed how people felt about the fighting. It talked about how British soldiers ran away at places like Windmill hills and Enniscorthy. But it also mentioned that the Irish fighters sometimes struggled when they didn't have leaders like Kyan and his Shelmaliers.
Recordings of the Song
Many people have recorded "Come All You Warriors" over the years. This helps keep the song and its history alive.
- Frank Harte recorded the song two times. You can find his versions on the albums Dublin Street Songs / Through Dublin City and 1798, The First Year of Liberty.
- Jerry O'Reilly sings it on an album called The Croppy's Complaint.
- Phil Berry recorded a slightly different version. His recordings are on the albums Father and Son and Wexford Ballads 1798. This last album also has other songs about the 1798 Rising.
See also
- Traditional Irish Singers
- Frank Harte
- List of Irish ballads
