Croppies Lie Down

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"Croppies Lie Down" is a Ulster Protestant folksong by an anonymous lyricist.

The lyrics glory in the brutal suppression of the rebellion of Irish republicans and nationalists which began on May 24, 1798. The United Kingdom was at war with revolutionary France at the time, and Irish nationalists were encouraged by rumours that France would invade the island. "Croppies" meant people with closely cropped hair, a fashion associated with the anti-aristocrat (and therefore, anti-wig) French revolutionaries.

The song is famous, or notorious, for being played by members of the Orange Order.^{[citation needed]}

The lyrics to the song begin:

"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 final verse concludes;

"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."