Taking Medievalism Home: The National Melody

Abstract

The Minstrel Boy has become a traditional Irish song, but Thomas Moore wrote the lyrics in the early years of the nineteenth century. The first stanza is as follows:

The Minstrel-Boy to the war is gone,

In the ranks of death you’ll find him;

His father’s sword he has girded on,

And his wild harp hung behind him.—

“Land of song!” said the warrior-bard,

“Tho’ all the world betrays thee,

One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,

One faithful harp shall praise thee!” (99)