Mrs. McGrath
The Sessions Band/Bruce Springsteen Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

"Mrs. McGraw," the sergeant said,
"Would you like to make a soldier
Out of your son, Ted?
With a scarlet cloak and a fine cocked hat,
Mrs. McGraw wouldn't you like that?"

Mrs. McGraw lived on the seashore
For the space of seven long years or more
'Till she saw big ship sailing in the bay
"Hallelu, babbelu, I think it's he!"

"Oh, Captain dear, where have you been.
Have you been out sailin' on the Mediteren'.
Have you any tidings of my son Ted.
Is the poor boy livin' or is he dead?"

Now up comes Ted without any legs
And in their place there were two wooden pegs
She kissed him a dozen times or two
Saying "Holly molly could it be you?"

"Now was you drunk or was you blind
When you left your two fine legs behind?
Or was it out walking upon the sea
That tore your legs from the knees away?"

"No I wasn't drunk and I wasn't blind
When I left my two fine legs behind.
For a cannon ball on the fifth of May
Took my two fine legs from the knees away."

"Now Teddy me boy," the old widow cried
"Your two fine legs was your mama's pride
Them stumps of a tree won't do at all
Why didn't you run from the big cannon ball?"

"Now against all war, I do profrain




Between Don Juan and the King of Spain
And, by herrons, I'll make 'em rue the time"

Overall Meaning

The song "Mrs. McGrath" is a traditional Irish folk song that has been covered by various artists including The Sessions Band and Bruce Springsteen. The song is about a mother, Mrs. McGrath, whose son, Ted, is recruited to become a soldier. The sergeant tries to convince Mrs. McGrath that her son would look great in uniform with a "scarlet cloak and a fine cocked hat." However, Ted ends up losing both of his legs in battle and comes back to his mother with wooden pegs for legs. The song tells the story of how she reacts to seeing her son after such a devastating injury and how Ted responds to her questions about what happened.


The song is, at its core, an anti-war song that highlights the physical and emotional damage that war inflicts on people. By depicting the story of a mother and her wounded son, the song emphasizes the human cost of war and its impact on families. The lyrics also criticize war as a senseless and violent pursuit, highlighting the role that cannon balls and other weapons play in causing severe injuries to soldiers.


Line by Line Meaning

Mrs. McGraw," the sergeant said,
The sergeant spoke to Mrs. McGraw, asking her whether she would like to make a soldier out of her son Ted.


"Would you like to make a soldier Out of your son, Ted?
The sergeant asked Mrs. McGraw if she was interested in enlisting her son, Ted, to become a soldier.


With a scarlet cloak and a fine cocked hat,
The sergeant offered Mrs. McGraw the idea of Ted wearing a fine cocked hat and a scarlet cloak as a soldier.


Mrs. McGraw wouldn't you like that?"
The sergeant asked Mrs. McGraw if she would agree to her son joining the army with fancy clothing.


Mrs. McGraw lived on the seashore
Mrs. McGraw resided on the beach by the sea.


For the space of seven long years or more
She stayed there for over seven years.


'Till she saw big ship sailing in the bay
After many years, she observed a big ship navigating in the bay.


"Hallelu, babbelu, I think it's he!"
Mrs. McGraw was thrilled to notice the ship and exclaimed, "Hallelu, babbelu, I think it's him!"


"Oh, Captain dear, where have you been.
Mrs. McGraw asked the captain where he had been.


Have you been out sailin' on the Mediteren'.
She inquired if he had been sailing across the Mediterranean.


Have you any tidings of my son Ted.
Mrs. McGraw asked the captain if he had any information about her son, Ted.


Is the poor boy livin' or is he dead?"
She asked the captain whether Ted was alive or dead.


Now up comes Ted without any legs
Ted came to meet her, but he had lost both of his legs.


And in their place there were two wooden pegs
Ted had two wooden peg legs replacing his original legs.


She kissed him a dozen times or two
Mrs. McGraw showered Ted with multiple kisses on seeing him after a long time.


Saying "Holly molly could it be you?"
She expressed disbelief and exclaimed, "Holly molly could it be you?"


"Now was you drunk or was you blind
Mrs. McGraw questioned Ted whether he was drunk or blind.


When you left your two fine legs behind?
She asked him how he had lost his legs.


Or was it out walking upon the sea
Mrs. McGraw inquired if it was when he was walking across the sea.


That tore your legs from the knees away?"
She asked if walking on the sea resulted in the loss of his legs from the knees down.


"No I wasn't drunk and I wasn't blind
Ted replied, saying that he was neither drunk nor blind.


When I left my two fine legs behind.
He explained that he left his legs behind when he was injured during a war.


For a cannon ball on the fifth of May
Ted revealed that his legs were destroyed by a cannonball on the fifth day of May.


Took my two fine legs from the knees away."
He said that he lost both his legs below the knees in the incident.


"Now Teddy me boy," the old widow cried
Mrs. McGraw called out to her son, Ted.


"Your two fine legs was your mama's pride
She lamented the loss of his legs and said that his legs were her pride.


Them stumps of a tree won't do at all
She commented that his wooden legs were not a suitable replacement for his original legs.


Why didn't you run from the big cannon ball?"
She asked him why he didn't try to escape from the cannonball.


"Now against all war, I do profrain
Finally, Ted expressed his disapproval of war.


Between Don Juan and the King of Spain
He referenced a battle between Don Juan and the King of Spain, further emphasizing his stance on war.


And, by herrons, I'll make 'em rue the time"
Finally, he vowed to make a difference and take a stand against war.




Lyrics ยฉ Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J BAIRD, TRADITIONAL, PD TRADITIONAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@tombehnke9058

2:21
I almost cry at these lyrics....

'Well I wasn't drunk and I wasn't blind
When I left my two fine legs behind
But a big cannonball on the fifth of May
Flow my two fine legs from the knees away'

'Ah Teddy me boy', the poor widow cried
'Yer two fine legs were yer mummy's pride
Them old stumps of a tree wouldn't do at all
Why didn't ye run for the big cannonball?'


Sometimes, there's nothing that you do to stop the bad things from happening.
Sometimes, you come to grips with it....but other people can't and they blame your for their lack of understanding.


I know I've done that to others.
Others will likely do it to me.


God Bless.
We can all find our way and we will all fine our understanding someday....



All comments from YouTube:

@briangillespie9611

Bruce Springsteen is a genius. Spends a lot of time in Dublin. Sometimes drinks in the Long Hall and Whealans. He loves Ireland and we love him. What a fantastic person and a wonderful human being. What a treasure

@Ivonne-cs3xx

Sitting with earplugs in train. Have to take care to not singing loud ๐Ÿ˜‚. Wonderful, Thank you so much โค๏ธ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป!

@derekpych9792

All kiddin aside when you have cancer music is your angel

@stebou4174

Masterpiece ! I love it so much. The lyrics, the musical variation on a traditionnal song, this is so serious, so immersive, so tensed and powerful

@johnreckhow516

Thank Mr Springsteen for that wonderful album DVD live in Dublin with sessions band

@lucjusz84

even better than the album version... gives shivers all the time! wonderful performance!

@eshire7646

this song gives me chills every time

@mackan3143

irish folk Music works with any kind of Music thats why its so good !

@derekpych9114

I remember buying this cd for my dad we listened to it together before he died

@russellsullivan154

OMG Bruce O'Springsteen! What a master!

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