Question

man like you knowing a song like that.
sergeant. theres many a thing a man might know and might not have any wish for.
man. now, i daresay, sergeant, in your youth, you used to be sitting up on a wall, the way you are sitting up on this barrel now, and the other lads beside you, and you singing \granuaile\? ...
sergeant. i did then.
man. and the \shan van vocht\? ...
sergeant. i did then.
man. and the \green on the cape\?
sergeant. that was one of them.
man. and maybe the man you are watching for tonight used to be sitting on the wall, when he was young, and singing those same songs. ... its a queer world. ...
sergeant. whisht! ... i think i see something coming. ... its only a dog.
man. and isnt it a queer world? ... maybe its one of the boys you used to be singing with that time you will be arresting today or tomorrow, and sending into the dock. ...
sergeant. thats true indeed.
man. and maybe one night, after you had been singing, if the other boys had told you some plan they had, some plan to free the country, you might have joined with them ... and maybe it is you might be in trouble now.
sergeant. well, who knows but i might? i had a great spirit in those days.
man. its a queer world, sergeant, and its little any mother knows when she sees her child creeping on the floor what might happen to it before it has gone through its life, or who will be who in the end.
sergeant. thats a queer thought now, and a true thought. wait now till i think it out. ... if it wasnt for the sense i have, and for my wife and family, and for me joining the force the time i did, it might be myself now would be after breaking gaol and hiding in the dark, and it might be him thats hiding in the dark and that got out of gaol would be sitting up here where i am on this barrel. ... and it might be myself would be creeping up trying to make my escape from himself, and it might be himself would be keeping the law, and myself would be breaking it, and myself would be trying to put a bullet in his head, or to take up a lump of stone the way you said he did. ... no, that myself did. ... oh! (gasps ... after a pause) whats that? (grabs mans arm)
man. (jumps off barrel and listens, looking out over water) its nothing, sergeant.
sergeant. i thought it might be a boat. i had a notion there might be friends of his coming about the quays with a boat.
man. sergeant, i am thinking it was with

Explanation:

The sergeant acknowledges sitting on a wall and singing songs like "Granuaile", "Shan Van Vocht", and "The Green on the Cape" in his youth. If his friends had suggested a plan to free the country, he might have joined them and could be in trouble now.

Answer:

The sergeant acknowledges sitting on a wall and singing certain songs in his youth. If friends had suggested a plan to free the country, he might have joined them.