The Orange And The Green

Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen My father, he was orange, and me mother, she was green Oh, my father was an Ulsterman, proud protestant was he My mother was a Catholic girl from County Cork was she They were married in two churches, lived happily enough Until the day that I was born, and things got rather tough Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen My father, he was orange, and me mother, she was green Baptised by father Reilly, I was rushed away by car To be made a little orangeman, me father's shining star I was christened David Anthony, but still in spite of that To my father, I was William, while my mother called me Pat Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen My father, he was orange, and me mother, she was green With mother, every Sunday to mass I'd proudly stroll Then after that, the orange lads would try to save my soul For both sides tried to claim me, but I was smart because I played the flute or played the harp, depending where I was Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen My father, he was orange, and me mother, she was green One day, me ma's relations came round to visit me Just as my father's kinfolk were all sittin' down to tea We tried to smooth things over, but they all began to fight And me being strictly neutral, I bashed everyone in sight Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen My father, he was orange, and me mother, she was green Now, my parents never could agree about my type of school My learning was all done at home, that's why I'm such a fool They both passed on, God rest them, but left me caught between That awful color problem of the orange and the green Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen My father, he was orange, and me mother, she was green Yes, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen My father, he was orange, and me mother, she was green