Orange or Green

Many folk have been wondering
How it might have been
When it comes to the Irish
One side’s orange, one side’s green

It is really ironic
Nor would they have known
It was a dispute
Over the old English throne

So, when do you think
That it all begun?
It happened in the budding year
Of sixteen ninety one

Well, King William came from far Orange
James’ daughter was his Queen
While King James and his Jacobites
Joined with the Irish Green

James had come through Ireland
To reclaim his crown
While King William sailed from England
To confound

So it was a paradox
I’m sure you must agree
One side Ulster with the orange
While the Irish Catholics, were green

Well we know the Irish
Would have simply flipped a coin
But the bloody Brits fought a battle
Across the River Boyne

There the Catholics were defeated
And James went on the run
‘Sectarian ‘Troubles’
They had just begun

Now we are more enlightened
And turned a new page
But when you see the ‘Old Tricolour’
Flying proudly on it’s stage
Then you will have noticed
A white buffer in between
And on one side there is orange
The other green

And still, they are orange
Or they’re green

Either orange, or green.

Rodd Sherwin
to a composition by
Rodd Sherwin