The Wearing of the Green

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 bloomin' 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 verdue dare not show
Then I will change the color that I
Wear in my canteen;
But 'till that day, please God, I'll stick
To wearing of the green