The Wearing of the Green

"The Wearing of the Green" is an Irish street ballad lamenting the repression of supporters of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It is to an old Irish air, and many versions of the lyric exist, the best-known being by Dion Boucicault. The song proclaims that "they are hanging men and women for the wearing of the green".

The revolutionary Society of United Irishmen adopted green as its colour, and supporters wore green-coloured garments, ribbons, or cockades. This was considered sedition by the Dublin Castle administration which included British occupying forces, and often resulted in prosecution by the authorities or violent reprisals by loyalist mobs. In some versions, the "green" being worn is shamrock rather than fabric.


O Paddy dear, and did ye hear the news that's goin' round? 
The shamrock is by law forbid to grow on Irish ground! 
No more Saint Patrick's Day we'll keep, his color can't be seen 
For there's a cruel law ag'in the Wearin' o' 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 yet was seen 
For they're hanging men and women there for the Wearin' o' the Green." 


"So if the color we must wear be England's cruel red 
Let it remind us of the blood that Irishmen have shed 
And pull the shamrock from your hat, and throw it on the sod 
But never fear, 'twill take root there, though underfoot 'tis trod. 


When laws can stop the blades of grass from growin' as they grow 
And when the leaves in summer-time their color dare not show 
Then I will change the color too I wear in my caubeen 
But till that day, please God, I'll stick to the Wearin' o' the Green.