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An Irish street ballad lamenting the repression of supporters of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The revolutionary Society of United Irishmen adopted green as its colour, and supporters wore green-coloured garments, ribbons, or cockades. In some versions, the "green" being worn is shamrock rather than fabric. The tune of "The Wearing of the Green" was first published in The Citizen, or Dublin Monthly Magazine, vol. III, January–June 1841. - wikipedia
Other popular songs sung to the same air include "The Rising of the Moon", whose subject is the same 1798 rising and the more light-hearted "The Orange and the Green".
Other popular songs sung to the same air include "The Rising of the Moon", whose subject is the same 1798 rising and the more light-hearted "The Orange and the Green".
Wearing of the Green, The
by trad
O [D] Paddy dear, and [Bm] did ye hear the [A] news that’s goin’ round?
The [G] shamrock is for- [D] bidden by law to [A] grow on Irish [D] ground!
No [D] more Saint Patrick’s [Bm] Day we’ll keep, his [A] color can’t be seen
For there’s a [G] cruel [D] law ag’in the [A] Wearin’ [A7] o’ the [D] Green.”
I met with Napper Tandy, and he took me by the hand
And he said, “How’s poor old Ireland, and how does she stand?”
“She’s the most distressful country that ever yet was seen
For they’re hanging men and women there for the Wearin’ o’ the Green.”
“So if the color we must wear be England’s cruel red
Let it remind us of the blood that Irishmen have shed
And pull the shamrock from your hat, and throw it on the sod
But never fear, ‘twill take root there, though underfoot ‘tis trod.
When laws can stop the blades of grass from growin’ as they grow
And when the leaves in summer-time their color dare not show
Then I will change the color too I wear in my caubeen
But till that day, please God, I’ll stick to the Wearin’ o’ the Green.
The [G] shamrock is for- [D] bidden by law to [A] grow on Irish [D] ground!
No [D] more Saint Patrick’s [Bm] Day we’ll keep, his [A] color can’t be seen
For there’s a [G] cruel [D] law ag’in the [A] Wearin’ [A7] o’ the [D] Green.”
I met with Napper Tandy, and he took me by the hand
And he said, “How’s poor old Ireland, and how does she stand?”
“She’s the most distressful country that ever yet was seen
For they’re hanging men and women there for the Wearin’ o’ the Green.”
“So if the color we must wear be England’s cruel red
Let it remind us of the blood that Irishmen have shed
And pull the shamrock from your hat, and throw it on the sod
But never fear, ‘twill take root there, though underfoot ‘tis trod.
When laws can stop the blades of grass from growin’ as they grow
And when the leaves in summer-time their color dare not show
Then I will change the color too I wear in my caubeen
But till that day, please God, I’ll stick to the Wearin’ o’ the Green.