The Spirit of the Nation/The United Irishmen
SONG OF THE UNITED IRISHMEN.
Air—"The Siege of Belleisle."
I.
'Tis the green—oh, the green is the colour of the true,
And we'll back it 'gainst the orange, and we'll raise it o'er the blue!
For the colour of our fatherland alone should here be seen—
'Tis the colour of the martyr'd dead—our own immortal green;
Then up for the green, boys, and up for the green!
Oh, 'tis down to the dust, and a shame to be seen;
But we've hands—oh, we've hands, boys, full strong enough, I ween,
To rescue and to raise again our own immortal green!
II.
They may say they have power 'tis vain to oppose—
'Tis better to obey and live, than surely die as foes;
But we scorn all their threats, boys, whatever they may mean;
For we trust in God above us, and we dearly love the green.
So, we'll up for the green, and we'll up for the green!
Oh, to die is far better than be curst as we have been;
And we've hearts—oh, we've hearts, boys, full true enough, I ween,
To rescue and to raise again our own immortal green!
III.
They may swear as they often did, our wretchedness to cure;
But well never trust John Bull again, nor let his lies allure.
No, we won't—no we won't, Bull, for now nor ever more!
For we've hopes on the ocean, and we've trust on the shore.
Then up for the green, boys, and up for the green!
Shout it back to the Sassenagh, "We'll never sell the green!"
For our Tone is coming back, and with men enough, I ween,
To rescue, and avenge us and our own immortal green.
IV.
Oh, remember the days when their reign we did disturb,
At Limerick and Thurles—Blackwater and Benburb;
And ask this proud Saxon if our blows he did enjoy,
When we met him on the battle-field of France—at Fontenoy.
Then we'll up for the green, boys, and up for the green!
Oh, 'tis still in the dust, and a shame to be seen;
But we've hearts and we've hands, boys, full strong enough, I ween,
To rescue and to raise again our own unsullied green!