Wearing of the Green (1798)

Irish ballad. words adapted by Dion Boucicault music: anonymous published by S. T. Gordon sung by sheet music singer, Fred Feild piano according to the sheet music 1. Oh! Paddy, dear, and did you hear The news that’s goin’ round The Shamrock is forbid by law To grow on Irish ground Saint Patrick’s day no more we’ll keep His color can’t be seen For there’s a bloody law agin’ The Wearin’ o’ the Green I met with Napper Tandy And he tuk me by the hand And he said, “How’s poor ould Ireland And how does she stand?“ Chorus: She’s the most distressful country That ever you have seen They’re hanging men and women there For “Wearin’ o’ the Green“ 2. Then since the color we must wear Is England’s cruel red Sure Ireland’s sons will ne’er forget The blood that they have shed You may take the Shamrock from your hut And cast it on the sod But ’twill take root and flourish still ’Though under foot ’tis trod When the law can stop the blades of grass From growing as they grow And when the leaves in summer time Their verdu