The Wearing Of The Green

O [D]Paddy dear, and did ye hear the [A]news that's goin' round?
The [G]shamrock is by law for[D]bid to [A]grow on Irish [D]ground!
No more Saint Patrick's Day we'll keep, his [A]color can't be seen,
for [G]there's a cruel [D]law ag'in the [A]Wearin' o' the [D]Green."

I [D]met with Napper Tandy, and he [A]took me by the hand,
and he [G]said, "How's poor old [D]Ireland, and [A]how does she [D]stand?"
"She's the most distressful country that [A]ever yet was seen,
for they're [G]hanging men and [D]women there for the [A]Wearin' o' the [D]Green."

"So [D]if the color we must wear be [A]England's cruel red,
[G]let it remind us [D]of the blood that [A]Irishmen have [D]shed
And pull the shamrock from your hat, and [A]throw it on the sod,
but [G]never fear, 'twill [D]take root there, though [A]underfoot 'tis [D]trod.

When [D]laws can stop the blades of grass from [A]growin' as they grow,
and [G]when the leaves in [D]summer-time their [A]color dare not [D]show
Then I will change the color too I [A]wear in my caubeen,
but [G]till that day, please [D]God, I'll stick to the [A]Wearin' o' the [D]Green.