Mrs Mcgraw Views
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. It was very popular among the Irish Volunteers in the years leading up to the 1916 Rising.[1]
The Weavers were the first to bring this Irish folk song to the US, when they recorded it in 1951. The song has a strong anti-war message and was a great favorite of the Irish Volunteers of the 1913-1916 Irish Rebellion. However, it dates back to the Napoleonic Wars; it is known from a Dublin broadside of 1815. The song is found in songbooks as both e"Mrs. McGrawh" and :"Mrs. McGrathn", and it is also known as 3"My Son John0". Check out Dave Marsh's liner notes below for more details.
Mrs Mcgraw Images
