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Chords and Lyrics for The Wearing of the Green

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Traditional Music
Words by Dion Boucicault

VERSE 1

  F                                C 
O Paddy dear, and did you hear the news that's going 'round?

    Bb             F 
The shamrock is forbid by law to grow on Irish ground;

                                            C 
Saint Patrick's day no more we'll keep, his color can't be seen,

    Bb               F 
For there's a bloody law agin' the wearin' o' the green.

  Bb       F 
I met with Napper Tandy, and he took me by the hand,

       Bb           F                     G7           C 
And he said, "How's poor old Ireland, and how does she stand?"

          F                             C 
She's the most distressful country that ever you have seen;

        Bb              F 
They're hanging men and women there for wearing of the green.

VERSE 2

     F                               C 
Then since the color we must wear is England's cruel red,

     Bb                  F 
Sure Ireland's sons will ne'er forget the blood that they have shed.

                                             C 
You may take the shamrock from your hat, and cast it on the sod,

     Bb                  F 
But 'twill take root and flourish still, though underfoot 'tis trod.

         Bb      F 
When the law can stop the blades of grass from growing as they grow,

    Bb       F                          G7               C 
And when the leaves in summertime their verdure dare not show,

     F                         C 
Then I will change the color I wear in my caubeen,

     Bb                  F 
But, till that day, I'll stick for aye to wearing of the green.

VERSE 3

    F                              C 
But if at last our color should be torn from Ireland's heart,

    Bb                  F 
Her sons with shame and sorrow from the dear old soil will part.

                                          C 
I've heard whisper of a country that lies far beyond the sea

Bb                        F 
Where rich and poor stand equal in the light of freedom's day.

  Bb    F 
O Erin, we must leave you, driven by the tyrant's hand,

        Bb    F                       G7                C 
Must we ask a mother's welcome from a strange but happy land;

          F                                 C 
Where the cruel cross of England's thraldom never shall be seen,

    Bb                     F 
And where, in peace, we'll live and die awearing of the green!

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Chords

Below is a list of all the chords in this song. Click on a chord to learn how to play the chord on a particular instrument.

Instrument Chords
Banjo Bb Major C Major F Major G7
Guitar Bb Major C Major F Major G7
Mandolin Bb Major C Major F Major G7
Piano Bb Major C Major F Major G7
Ukulele Bb Major C Major F Major G7

Sheet Music for The Wearing of the Green

Chords on this page may be simplified from the original version. View the sheet music for this title to see the original chords. The following sheet music is available for this title: