oh paddy dear and did you hear the news that s going round the shamrock is by law forbid to grow on irish ground saint patrick s day no more we ll keep his colours can t be seen for they re hanging men and women for the wearing of the green i met with napper tandy and he took me by the hand he said how s dear old ireland and how does she stand she s the most distressful country that you have ever seen for they re hanging men and women for the wearing of the green for the wearing of the green for the wearing of the green they re hanging men and women for the wearing of the green then since the color we must wear is england s cruel red sure ireland s sons will ne 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 my father loved his country and sleeps within its breast while i that would have died for her must never so be blessed those tears my mother shed for me how bitter they had been if i had proved a traitor to the wearing of the green for the wearing of the green for the wearing of the green they re hanging men and women for the wearing of the green but if at last our colours should be torn from ireland s heart her sons with shame and sorrow from the dear old isle would part i ve heard a whisper of a land that lies beyond the sea where rich and poor stand equal in the light of freedom s day oh ireland must we leave you driven by a tyrant s hand and seek a mother s blessing from a strange and distant land where the cruel cross of england shall never more be seen and in that land we ll live and die for the wearing of the green for the wearing of the green for the wearing of the green they re hanging men and women for the wearing of the green for the wearing of the green for the wearing of the green they re hanging men and women for the wearing of the green