The Wearing of the Green — Jason Paul performance

The performance

2 recordings

Performance 1

The Wearing of the Green [19th Century] – Irish Traditional | Jason Paul

May 8, 2026

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Lyrics and chords

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verse 1

Oh GPaddy dear, and did you hear the D7news that’s going round

The Cshamrock is forGbid by law to Amgrow on Irish Gground

And Saint Patrick’s Day no more we’ll keep, his D7color can’t be seen

For Cthere’s a bloody Glaw against the Amwearing of the Ggreen

I had Cmet with Napper GTandy and he D7took me by the Ghand

And he Csaid “how’s poor old GIreland, and howAever does she D7stand?”

She’s the Gmost distressful country now that D7ever you have seen

They’re Changing men and Gwomen there for Amwearin of the Ggreen

verse 2

Then Gsince the color we must wear is D7England's cruel red

Sure CIreland’s sons will Gne’er forget the Amblood that they have Gshed

You may take the shamrock from your hat and D7cast it in the sod

But Ctwill take root and Gflourish still, though Amunder foot tis Gtrod

When the Claw can stop the Gblades of grass from D7growing as they Ggrow

And when Call the leaves in Gsummertime their Averdure dare not D7show

Then I Gsure will change the color that I D7wear in my caubeen

But Ctill that day, please GGod, I’ll stick to Amwearin of the Ggreen

verse 3

But Gif at last our color should be D7torn from Ireland’s heart

Her Csons with shame and Gsorrow from the Amfear old soil will Gpart

I’ve heard whisper of a country that lies D7far beyond the sea

Where Crich and poor stand Gequal in the Amlight of freedom’s Gday

Dear old CErin must we Gleave you, driven D7by the tyrant’s Ghand

Must we Cask a mother’s Gwelcome from a Astrange but happy D7land

Where the Gcruel cross of England’s thraldom D7never shall be seen

And Cwhere, thank God, we’ll Glive and die still Amwearin of the Ggreen

The Wearing of the Green is a 19th-century Irish traditional song associated with the 1798 Irish Rebellion and the suppression of Irish nationalist symbols under British rule. The song circulated widely through oral tradition and later became part of the broader Irish folk and rebel song repertoire. Over time it has been recorded by performers such as The Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem, John McCormack, and The Dubliners, each carrying the song into different generations of Irish music. This performance is presented with voice and acoustic guitar. Song: The Wearing of the Green Origin: Irish traditional, 19th century Performance: Jason Paul – voice & guitar