Photos
courtesy of K. R. Mesloh
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"Wearing
of the Green" is a traditional street ballad from
Ireland that may date to about 1798-1802. The unofficial
song of West Point, "Benny Havens, Oh!" is based
upon it.
The
Irish drama Arrah Na Pogue, by E. H. House
and Dion Boucicoult, featured "Wearing of the Green," as
arranged by S. Behrens and sung by John Edwin McDonough
in 1865. This fact has led some to give composer
credit to Boucicoult.
Many
early recordings of the ballad, both instrumental
and vocal versions, were made by various companies,
including Columbia 194 (circa 1901) by an unnamed
baritone (probably J. W. Myers). The lyrics are
as follows:
Oh,
Paddy dear, and did you hear
The news that's going round?
The shamrock is forbid by law
To grow on Irish ground!
St. Patrick's Day no more we'll keep,
His color can't be seen,
For there's a bloody law agin'
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 yet was seen;
They're hanging men and women there
For wearing of the green."
Then
since the color we must wear
Is England's cruel red,
Sure Ireland's songs will ne'er forget
The blood that they have shed.
You may take the shamrock from your hat now,
Cast it on the sod,
But 'twill take root and flourish still,
Tho' under foot it's trod.
When the law can stop the blades of green
From growing as they grow,
And when the leaves in summertime
Their verdure dare not show,
Then I will change the color that I
Wear in my caubeen;
But 'till that day, please God, I'll stick
To wearing of the green.
But
if at last our color
Should be torn from Ireland's heart,
Our sons with shame and sorrow
From this 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.
O Erin, must we leave you
Driven by a tyrant's hand?
Must we ask a mother's blessing
From a strange and distant land?
Where the cruel cross of England
Shall nevermore be seen,
And where, please God, we'll live and die
Still wearing of the green!
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