The Orange and the Green - Anthony Murphy (Cover) by Seth Staton Watkins

The Orange and the Green - Anthony Murphy (Cover) by Seth Staton Watkins

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"The Orange and the Green" is a jocular Irish folk song about a man whose father was a Protestant ("Orange") and mother a Catholic ("Green"). It describes the man's struggle to reconcile both sides of his family in the face of their seemingly insurmountable differences, while also noting the humorous but unfortunate fact that prior to his birth, they seemed to have got on just fine.

This song was written by Anthony Murphy of Liverpool, and is sung to the same tune as "The Wearing of the Green", which is also used in "The Rising of the Moon", another Irish ballad. Because of its proximity to other rebel tunes like "Rising of the Moon" and the singer's apparent proclivity toward his mother rather than his father (he proudly strolled to mass and sang rebel songs of his own accord), I like to consider this a rebel song as well. It has been recorded by bands such as The Irish Rovers, The Wolfe Tones, and Paddy Reilly among others.

Lyrics:
Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green

Oh my father was an Ulsterman, 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

Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green

Baptised by father Reilly, I was rushed away by car
To be made a little orangeman, my father's shining star
I was christened David Anthony, but still in spite of that
To my father I was William while my mother called me Pat

Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green

With mother every Sunday to mass I'd proudly stroll
Then after that the orange lads would try to save my soul
For both sides tried to claim me, but I was smart because
I played the flute or played the harp, depending where I was

Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green

Now when I'd sing them rebel songs much to me mother's joy
My father would jump up and say 'look here me William boy'
That's quite enough of that lot, he'd then toss me a coin
And have me sing the Orange Flute or the Heroes of the Boyne

Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green

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

Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green

Now 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 both passed on, god rest them, but left me caught between
That awful color 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 my mother she was green

Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green