The Orange and the Green Lyrics
The Irish RoversMusic Video
The Orange And The Green
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
Me father he was Orange and me mother she was Green.
Oh my father was an Ulster man, 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,
Me father he was Orange and me mother she was Green.
Baptized by Father Riley, I was rushed away by car,
To be made a little Orange-man, 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,
Me 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 lodge would try to save my soul.
For both sides tried to claim me, but I was smart because,
I'd play the flute or play the harp, depending where I was.
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen,
Me 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,
Me father he was Orange and me mother she was Green.
Now my parents never could agree about my type of school,
My learnin' was all done at home, that's why I'm such a fool.
They've both passed on, God rest 'em, but left me caught between,
That awful colour problem of the Orange and the Green.
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen,
Me father he was Orange and me mother she was Green.
Yes, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen,
Me father he was Orange and me mother she was Green.
Song Details
🎶 Songwriter: Anthony Murphy from Liverpool, England.
📝 Song Brief:
“The Orange and the Green” is a humorous Irish folk song about a man born to a Protestant father and a Catholic mother — a mix that leads to endless confusion throughout his life. From being baptised twice, to attending both Mass and the Orange lodge, to family gatherings that erupt into brawls, the song playfully highlights the absurdities of sectarian division.
🍀 Genre: Irish Folk Song
👥 Covers: The Wolfe Tones, Brobdingnagian Bards, The Kreellers, The Irish Ceili Band, The Shamrock Singers, Carlyle Fraser, Hair of the Dog, Grehan Sisters, The Clancey's...
🎤 Featured Artists: The Irish Rovers
💿 Album: The Irish Rovers Gems
Released: November 15, 1996
Country: Canada
Format: 2xCD
Label: Rover Records
🎸 If you'd like to play this song on guitar, you can view the chord version on our sister site, Bell & Co Music.
A little bit about the late, great Jimmy Ferguson
Jimmy Ferguson — born James Francis Ferguson on February 26th, 1940 — was a founding member of The Irish Rovers and one of the group’s most unforgettable personalities. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, he emigrated to Canada as a young man, where fate brought him together with George Millar at an Irish function in Toronto in 1963. The two formed a folk duo, and a year later they were joined by Millar’s cousin, Joe Millar. After touring Ontario, George’s brother Will Millar came aboard in Calgary — and with that, The Irish Rovers were born.
Jimmy was the only Rover who didn’t play an instrument, but he more than made up for it with his rich voice, quick wit, and irresistible stage presence. He had a gift for connecting with audiences — a natural entertainer who could light up a room with a single grin. His performances always sparkled with humour, warmth, and that unmistakable Belfast charm.
In 1992, while the band was touring New Zealand, Jimmy suffered a heart attack. Though he continued performing, heart problems followed him for the rest of his life. He passed away far too young, at just 57, while on tour in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1997.
Jimmy Ferguson remains remembered not only as a great singer, but as a beloved character, a man whose joy in performing was as genuine as it was infectious. His legacy lives on in the music, the laughter, and the countless memories he left behind — truly, the late, great Jimmy Ferguson. 💕
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