Irish traditional song lyrics — collected by Beer Belly Band.
Chorus:
It is the biggest mixed 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 came she
They were married in two churches, lived happily enough
Until the day that I was born and things got rather tough
Chorus
Baptized by Father Reilly, then 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
Chorus
With mother every Sunday to mass I’d proudly stroll
Then after that, the Orange lodge would try to save me 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
Chorus
Now when I sing them rebel songs much to my mother’s joy
My father would leap and shout, “Look here, William, my boy.
That’s quite enough of that lot.” He’d then toss me a coin
And have me sing King Billy and the Heroes of Boyne
Chorus
One day my ma’s relations came round to visited 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
Chorus
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’ve both past on, God rest them, but left me caught between
The awful color problem of the Orange and Green
Chorus
Chorus