The Orange And The Green
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This is an Irish folk song about a man whose father was a Protestant (Orange) and his mother was a Catholic (Green). It goes through this man's trials as the product of religious intermarriage and how mixed up he turned out to be from such an upbringing. This song was recorded by The Irish Rovers. It is sung to the same tune as The Wearing of the Green.
The lyrics are as follows:
- 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.
- Baptised 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 heroes 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 colour problem of 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.
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