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"Mrs. McGrath" (also known as "Mrs. McGraw") is an Irish folk song. The song tells the story of a woman whose son enters the British Army, and returns seven years later having lost his legs to a cannonball fighting against Napoleon in the Peninsular War (presumably at the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro, fought between May 3rd and 5th, 1811). The general theme of the song is one of opposition to war, the mother claiming that she would rather have her son as he was. The Irish folk song collector Colm O Lochlainn described the song as "known to every true born citizen of Dublin". It was very popular among the Irish Volunteers in the years leading up to the 1916 Rising.
Although the song probably dates from the time of the Peninsular Wars between 1807 and 1814, the earliest account of it in Ireland was in 1876. It was also popular with soldiers during the American Civil War.
Along with Johnny I hardly Knew Ye, it is one of the most graphic of all the Irish folk songs in dealing with the sickness and injuries caused by warfare.
In 1958 the song was recorded by Burl Ives on Decca DL8444 and by The Belafonte Folk Singers on RCA LSP1760 under the name of "The Sergeant and Mrs. McGrath". It was also recorded by the Clancy Brothers on their 1966 album Isn't It Grand Boys under the title "My Son Ted".
"Mrs. McGrath" is also a song by The Dubliners based on the tune of the original folk song. This version of the song tells the story of a country boy who goes to Dublin to college but fails due to spending all his money and time on women and drink
Bruce Springsteen recorded a version of the song on his 2006 album, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. Performed frequently on the subsequent Sessions Band Tour, this incarnation was included on the 2007 Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin audio and video release. In all this, Springsteen changed the traditional lyrics slightly. In the original song, Mrs. McGrath would rather have her "son as he used to be than the King of France and his whole navy." In Springsteen's version, this is changed to "King of America."
Fiddler's Green recorded the song with slightly different lyrics for their 2009 album Sports Day at Killaloe.
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"Mrs. McGrath" (also known as "Mrs. McGraw") is an Irish folk song. The song tells the story of a woman whose son enters the British Army, and returns seven years later having lost his legs to a cannonball fighting against Napoleon in the Peninsular War (presumably at the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro, fought between May 3rd and 5th, 1811). The general theme of the song is one of opposition to war, the mother claiming that she would rather have her son as he was. The Irish folk song collector Colm O Lochlainn described the song as "known to every true born citizen of Dublin". It was very popular among the Irish Volunteers in the years leading up to the 1916 Rising.
Although the song probably dates from the time of the Peninsular Wars between 1807 and 1814, the earliest account of it in Ireland was in 1876. It was also popular with soldiers during the American Civil War.
Along with Johnny I hardly Knew Ye, it is one of the most graphic of all the Irish folk songs in dealing with the sickness and injuries caused by warfare.
In 1958 the song was recorded by Burl Ives on Decca DL8444 and by The Belafonte Folk Singers on RCA LSP1760 under the name of "The Sergeant and Mrs. McGrath". It was also recorded by the Clancy Brothers on their 1966 album Isn't It Grand Boys under the title "My Son Ted".
"Mrs. McGrath" is also a song by The Dubliners based on the tune of the original folk song. This version of the song tells the story of a country boy who goes to Dublin to college but fails due to spending all his money and time on women and drink
Bruce Springsteen recorded a version of the song on his 2006 album, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. Performed frequently on the subsequent Sessions Band Tour, this incarnation was included on the 2007 Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin audio and video release. In all this, Springsteen changed the traditional lyrics slightly. In the original song, Mrs. McGrath would rather have her "son as he used to be than the King of France and his whole navy." In Springsteen's version, this is changed to "King of America."
Fiddler's Green recorded the song with slightly different lyrics for their 2009 album Sports Day at Killaloe.
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