The Wearing Of The Green Chords

The Wearing Of The Green chords
Anonymous Ballad 1798 / lyrics by Dion Boucicault  *
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wearing_of_the_Green
 
  D                               A
O Paddy dear, and did ye hear the news that's goin' round?
    G                     D      A             D
The shamrock is by law forbid to grow on Irish ground!
                                            A
No more Saint Patrick's Day we'll keep, his color can't be seen,
    G               D             A              D
for there's a cruel law ag'in the Wearin' o' the Green."
 
  D                             A
I met with Napper Tandy, and he took me by the hand,
       G                     D            A            D
and he said, "How's poor old Ireland, and how does she stand?"
                                         A
"She's the most distressful country that ever yet was seen,
            G               D                   A              D
for they're hanging men and women there for the Wearin' o' the Green."
 
    D                            A
"So if the color we must wear be England's cruel red,
G                D                 A             D
let it remind us of the blood that Irishmen have shed
                                         A
And pull the shamrock from your hat, and throw it on the sod,
    G                  D                       A              D
but never fear, 'twill take root there, though underfoot 'tis trod.
 
     D                                      A
When laws can stop the blades of grass from growin' as they grow,
    G                  D                 A              D
and when the leaves in summer-time their color dare not show
                                   A
Then I will change the color too I wear in my caubeen,
    G                     D                      A              D
but till that day, please God, I'll stick to the Wearin' o' the Green.
 
* Alternates:
 
Capo II
 
D = C
G = F
A = G
 
Capo V
 
D = A
G = D
A = E
 
Set8
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