The Wearing Of The Green Lyrics
The Wolfe TonesMusic Video
The Wearing Of The Green
Oh! Paddy, dear, and did you hear
The news that's goin' round,
The shamrock is by law forbid
To grow on Irish ground.
Saint Patrick's Day no more we'll keep
His colours can't be seen
For they're hanging 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 have ever seen,
For they're hanging men and women there
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.
Then since the color we must wear
Is England's cruel red
Sure Ireland's sons will n'er forget
The blood that they have shed.
You may take the shamrock from your hat
And cast it on the sod,
But 'twill take root and flourish still
Tho' underfoot 'tis trod.
My father loved his country
And sleeps within its breast
While I that would have died for her
Must never soul be blessed
Those tears my mother shed for me
How bitter they had been
If I had proved the traitor to
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.
But if at last our colour should
Be torn from Ireland's heart,
Her sons with shame and sorrow
From the dear old isle will part.
I've heard a whisper of a land
That lies beyond the sea,
Where rich and poor stand equal
In the light of freedom's day.
Oh, Ireland! Must we leave you,
Driven by a tyrant's hand?
And seek a mother's blessing
From a strange and distant land?
Where the cruel cross of England
Shall never more be seen
And in that land we'll 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.
Song Details
✍️ Lyricist: Dion Boucicault (1820-1890)... learn more at Wikipedia
🎶 Composer: Traditional - shares the same tune as Rising of the Moon and The Orange and the Green
📝 Song Brief: The song laments the repression of supporters of the 1798 Irish Rebellion (Irish uprising against British Rule). The colour green and the shamrock were used as symbols of sympathy for Irish Independence. After suppressing the Rebellion, the British imprisoned or executed anyone found wearing green.
The lyrics follow a narrator who meets the revolutionary Napper Tandy, hears of Ireland’s suffering, and laments the brutal punishments inflicted on ordinary people for displaying the shamrock. The song blends sorrow, patriotism, and quiet defiance, capturing the emotional landscape of a nation under siege.
📖 Glossary:- Napper Tandy
James “Napper” Tandy (1740–1803) was a Dublin-born revolutionary and a prominent member of the United Irishmen, the organisation that sought to unite Catholics and Protestants in the cause of Irish independence. Known for his fiery speeches and political activism, he became a symbol of resistance during the 1790s. In song tradition, his name often represents courage, defiance, and the spirit of rebellion. - 1798 Rebellion
The 1798 Rebellion was an uprising led by the United Irishmen, inspired by the ideals of the American and French revolutions. It sought to end British rule in Ireland and create a republic based on equality for all religious groups. The rebellion was met with severe repression, and its aftermath shaped Irish political identity for generations. Many songs — including The Wearing Of The Green — reflect the sorrow, pride, and resilience of this period. - Shamrock Symbolism
The shamrock, a small three‑leafed clover, has long been a symbol of Irish identity. By the late 18th century it became closely associated with nationalism and the struggle for independence. During the 1798 Rebellion, wearing a shamrock or the colour green could be seen as an act of defiance — and was sometimes punished harshly. In songs, the shamrock often represents loyalty, unity, and the unbroken spirit of Ireland.
🍀 Genre: Irish Rebel Song, Irish Folk Song
👥 Covers: John McCormack (1904, again in 1912), Judy Garland (1940), Patrick O'Malley (1961), Orthodox Celts (1997).
🎤 Featured Artists: The Wolfe Tones
💿 Album: The Wolfe Tones
Released: 1985
Country: Ireland
Format: 12" Vinyl
Label: MCA Records, Triskel Records
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