The Wearing of the Green - The Wolfe Tones

Oh!

Paddy, dear, and did you hear

The news that’s going 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 they’re hanging men and women

The wearing of the green

I met with Napper Tandy

And he took me by the hand

And he said «How's poor old Ireland?

And how does she stand?»

She’s the most distressful country

That ever you have seen

They’re hanging men and women

For 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