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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