Welcome, Guest. Please Login
NationalAnthems.us Online Forum
 
  HomeHelpSearchLogin  
 
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send Topic Print
(Ireland) The Wearing of the Green (Read 86302 times)
20.09.2005 at 12:52:41

Jan   Offline
Global Moderator

Bremen, Bremen, Germany

Posts: 1159
*****
 
The Wearing of The Green

version by Dion Boucicault (1820-1890)

1. Oh! Paddy, dear, and did you hear
The news that's going round,
The shamrock is forbid by law
To grow on Irish ground.
Saint 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 you have seen,
They're hanging men and women there
For wearing of the green.

2. Then since the color we must wear
Is England's cruel red
Sure Ireland's sons will n'er forget
The blood that they have shed.
You may take the shamrock from your hat
And cast it on the sod,
But 'twill take root and flourish still
Tho' underfoot 'tis trod.

When the law can stop the blades of grass
From growing as they grow,
And when the leaves in summer time
Their verdure dare not show,
Then I will change the color
I wear in my caubeen,
But till that day I'll stick for aye
To wearing of the green.

3. But if at last our color should
Be torn from Ireland's heart,
Her sons with shame and sorrow
From the dear old sod will part.
I've heard a whisper of a country
That lies beyond the sea,
Where rich and poor stand equal
In the light of freedom's day.

Oh, Erin! Must we leave you,
Driven by the tyrant's hand?
Must we ask a mother's welcome
From a strange but happy land?
Where the cruel cross of England's thralldom
Never shall be seen
And where in peace we'll live and die
A-wearing of the green.


Historical Background:

"The Wearing of the Green" is an anonymous Irish street ballad dating from the Irish uprising against the British rule in 1798. The colour green and the shamrock were used as symbols of sympathy for Irish independence, and the British actually started executing persons found wearing anything of the colour green after the suppression of the 1798 uprising.

Napper Tandy, who is mentioned in the poem, was in fact a shopkeeper in Dublin who, after having been identified by the British as a freedom fighter, had to flee to France, from where he tried to organise support for the Irish independence movement.

There are several versions of the text (of which some replace the name Napper Tandy by Napoléon Bonaparte), but the most common one has been written by Dion Boucicault (1820-1890), who was, despite his French name, an Irishman born in Dublin, who later migrated to America and lived in New York, where he published the song with some changes and additions he had made - especially the third verse, which mentions America ("I've heard a whisper of a country / That lies beyond the sea / Where rich and poor stand equal / In the light of freedom's day") has apparently been added by Boucicault. Boucicault wrote several plays, poetry and music. One of his better-known works is the well-known song "Sidewalks of New York".

The music of "The Wearing of the Green", which is another example of the "Irish rebel music" sub-genre of Irish folk music, is also used for two other Irish folk songs, "Rising of the Moon" and "The Orange and the Green".

Sources:
http://www.franks.org/fr01068.htm
http://cityofoaks.home.netcom.com/tunes/WearingOfTheGreen.html
http://www.kinglaoghaire.com/site/lyrics/song_547.html
http://www.zeit.de/2003/29/A-Irland
 

Dass ein gutes Deutschland blühe&&wie ein andres gutes Land (B. Brecht)
IP Logged
 
Reply #1 - 30.08.2007 at 16:55:16

Jan   Offline
Global Moderator

Bremen, Bremen, Germany

Posts: 1159
*****
 
 

Dass ein gutes Deutschland blühe&&wie ein andres gutes Land (B. Brecht)
IP Logged
 
Reply #2 - 17.03.2008 at 16:59:11

Jan   Offline
Global Moderator

Bremen, Bremen, Germany

Posts: 1159
*****
 
The music of "Wearing of the Green" is also used for the song "The Orange and The Green". This ballad, written by an unknown author, pokes fun of the religious diffences of Ireland, particularly in Northern Ireland. It is sung from the view of a man whose father was Protestant (Orange) and whose mother was Catholic (Green). Recordings of this song have been produced by several bands such as The Irish Rovers, The Wolfe Tones, and more recently by the Brobdingnagian Bards.

The Orange and The Green

Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.


My father was an Ulster man, proud Protestant was he.
My mother was a Catholic girl, from county Cork was she.
They were married in two churches, lived happily enough,
Until the day that I was born and things got rather tough.

Baptized by Father Riley, I was rushed away by car,
To be made a little Orangeman, my father's shining star.
I was christened "David Anthony," but still, inspite of that,
To me father, I was William, while my mother called me Pat.

With Mother every Sunday, to Mass I'd proudly stroll.
Then after that, the Orange lodge would try to save my soul.
For both sides tried to claim me, but i was smart because
I'd play the flute or play the harp, depending where I was.

Now when I'd sing those rebel songs, much to me mother's joy,
Me father would jump up and say, "Look here would you me boy.
That's quite enough of that lot", he'd then toss me a coin
And he'd have me sing the Orange Flute or the Heros of The Boyne

One day me Ma's relations came round to visit me.
Just as my father's kinfolk were all sitting down to tea.
We tried to smooth things over, but they all began to fight.
And me, being strictly neutral, I bashed everyone in sight.

My parents never could agree about my type of school.
My learning was all done at home, that's why I'm such a fool.
They've both passed on, God rest 'em, but left me caught between
That awful color problem of the Orange and the Green.

Sources:
http://www.thebards.net/music/lyrics/The_Orange_And_Green.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orange_And_The_Green
 

Dass ein gutes Deutschland blühe&&wie ein andres gutes Land (B. Brecht)
IP Logged
 
Reply #3 - 25.03.2008 at 20:06:36

Jan   Offline
Global Moderator

Bremen, Bremen, Germany

Posts: 1159
*****
 
Another ballad sung to the tune of "The Wearing of the Green" is the song "The Rising of the Moon", written by John Keegan 'Leo' Casey (1846-70), who is also known as the poet of the Fenian movement.

Same as "The Wearing of the Green", also "The Rising of the Moon" commemorates the 1798 uprising against the British rule. The lyrics refer to the outbreak of the rebellion in county Kildare as United Irish rebels convey the order to rise. The air of hope and optimism associated with the ultimately doomed rebellion was intended to provide inspiration for rebels "Who would follow in their footsteps" preparing to take to the field in another doomed venture, the Fenian rebellion of 1867.

The song is still widely recognised in Ireland today, since it is often taught in schools, played regularly at official and sporting events and has been covered by a wide variety of musicians.

Same as many other rebel songs, it is written in English, but uses single words in Irish language, here 'bhuachaill', which means Lad or Boy.

The Rising of the Moon

O then, tell me Sean O'Farrell, tell me why you hurry so?
"Hush a bhuachaill, hush and listen", and his cheeks were all aglow,
"I bear orders from the captain:- get you ready quick and soon
For the pikes must be together at the rising of the moon"
By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon,
For the pikes must be together at the rising of the moon

"O then tell me Sean O'Farrell where the gath'rin is to be?"
"In the old spot by the river, right well known to you and me.
One more word for signal token:- whistle up a marchin' tune,
With your pike upon your shoulder, by the rising of the moon."
By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon
With your pike upon your shoulder, by the rising of the moon.

Out from many a mud wall cabin eyes were watching through the night,
Many a manly heart was beatin, for the coming morning light.
Murmurs ran along the valleys to the banshee's lonely croon
And a thousand pikes were flashing at the rising of the moon.
At the rising of the moon, at the rising of the moon.
And a thousand pikes were flashing at the rising of the moon.

All along that singing river that black mass of men were seen,
High above their shining weapons flew their own beloved green.
"Death to every foe and traitor! Forward! Strike the marching tune."
And hurrah my boys for freedom; 'tis the rising of the moon".
Tis the rising of the moon, tis the rising of the moon
And hurrah my boy for freedom; 'Tis the rising of the moon".

Well they fought for poor old Ireland, and full bitter was their fate,
Oh what glorious pride and sorrow, fills the name of ninety-eight!
Yet, thank God, e'en still are beating hearts in manhood burning noon,
Who would follow in their footsteps, at the risin' of the moon
By the rising of the moon, By the rising of the moon
Who would follow in their footsteps, at the risin' of the moon.

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rising_of_the_Moon
 

Dass ein gutes Deutschland blühe&&wie ein andres gutes Land (B. Brecht)
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send Topic Print