When I was eighteen years of age
Into the army I did engage
I left my home with a good intent
For to join the forty-second regiment
While I was posted on guard one day
Some soldiers' children came out to play
From the officers' quarters my captain came
And he ordered me for to take their names
I took one name instead of three
On neglect of duty they then charged me
I was confined to barracks with loss of pay
For doing my duty the opposite way
A loaded rifle I did prepare
For to shoot my captain in the barracks square
It was my captain I meant to kill
But I shot my colonel against my will
At Liverpool Assizes my trial I stood
And I held my courage as best I could
Then the old judge said, Now, McCafferty
Go prepare your soul for eternity
I had no father to take my part
No loving mother to break her heart
I had one friend and a girl was she
Who'd lay down her life for McCafferty
So come all you officers take advice from me
And go treat your men with some decency
For it's only lies and a tyranny
That have made a murderer of McCafferty
Into the army I did engage
I left my home with a good intent
For to join the forty-second regiment
While I was posted on guard one day
Some soldiers' children came out to play
From the officers' quarters my captain came
And he ordered me for to take their names
I took one name instead of three
On neglect of duty they then charged me
I was confined to barracks with loss of pay
For doing my duty the opposite way
A loaded rifle I did prepare
For to shoot my captain in the barracks square
It was my captain I meant to kill
But I shot my colonel against my will
At Liverpool Assizes my trial I stood
And I held my courage as best I could
Then the old judge said, Now, McCafferty
Go prepare your soul for eternity
I had no father to take my part
No loving mother to break her heart
I had one friend and a girl was she
Who'd lay down her life for McCafferty
So come all you officers take advice from me
And go treat your men with some decency
For it's only lies and a tyranny
That have made a murderer of McCafferty
envoyé par Bernart Bartleby - 3/1/2018 - 13:41
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Una canzone irlandese molto nota – con i titoli di McCafferty, o McCaffery o McKaffery - che trovo nel repertorio di artisti come Dominic Behan, The Spinners, Roy Harris, ma soprattutto Ewan MacColl e The Dubliners
Sulla melodia de The Croppy Boy
Il testo che propongo – quello della versione dei Dubliners – racconta la storia vera di Patrick McCaffery, nato nel 1842 nella contea irlandese di Kildare. Orfano di madre, abbandonato dal padre, Patrick ebbe un'infanzia difficilissima, con il corollario dell'allora inevitabile lavoro precoce in una fabbrica. A 18 anni si arruolò ma, forse per il suo carattere riottoso e insubordinato, forse soltanto perchè irlandese, fu subito accolto male dai suoi diretti superiori. La canzone racconta che gli bastò esitare a compiere l'ordine di identificare dei bambini, figli di militari, che facevano chiasso perchè Patrick McCaffery fosse condannato a diversi giorni di consegna. Stanco di soprusi, questo episodio fece esplodere in lui l'odio per il suo capitano, sicchè McCaffery gli sparò col fucile in dotazione, uccidendo involontariamente col lo stesso colpo anche il colonnello del reggimento.
Patrick McCaffery fu processato e condannato a morte e impiccato l'11 gennaio del 1862 nella prigione di Kirkdale, Liverpool.