Mrs. McGrath

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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. 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.

"Mrs. McGrath" is also a song by the 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

[edit] Recordings

Bruce Springsteen recorded a version of the song on his 2006 album, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. And on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 released a live album and DVD entitled Bruce Springsteen and the Sessions Band.