The Wearing of the Green

For the wearing of the green, for the wearing of the green They're hanging men and women for the wearing of the green For the wearing of the green, for the wearing of the green They're hanging men and women for the wearing of the green Oh. Paddy dear and did you hear the news that's going round? The shamrock is by law forbid to grow on Irish ground St. Patrick's Day no more we keep his colour can't be seen For they hangin' men and women for the wearing of the green I met with Napper Tandy and he took me by the hand He said: "How's dear old Ireland and how does she stand?" She's the most distressful country that you've ever seen For they're hanging men and women for the wearing of the green For the wearing of the green, for the wearing of the green They're hanging men and women for the wearing of the green And if the color we must wear is England's cruel red Shure Ireland sons will not forget the blood that they have shed You may take the shamrock from your hat and cast it down the sod But 'twill take root and flourish there, tho' under foot 'tis trod My father loved his country and sweeped from in 'is breast But I had one they died for her must never soul be blessed Most tears me mother shad for me, how'd bitter they had been But we have proved the traitors for the wearing of the green For the wearing of the green, for the wearing of the green They're hanging men and women for the wearing of the green For the wearing of the green, for the wearing of the green They're hanging men and women for the wearing of the green And if at last our coloured shirt be thorn from Ireland's heart Her sons would shame and sorrow for the dear old my wound heart I hear the whisper of the land that lies me on the sea Where the rich and poor stand equal in the light of freedom's day Oh, Ireland, must believe you driven by a tyrant's hand And see come mother's blessing from the strange and distant land Where the cruel cross of England shall never more be seen And in that land we live and die still wearing Ireland's green For the wearing of the green, for the wearing of the green They're hanging men and women for the wearing of the green For the wearing of the green, for the wearing of the green They're hanging men and women for the wearing of the green For the wearing of the green, for the wearing of the green They're hanging men and women for the wearing of the green