UP FOR THE GREEN! CINEMATIC

“Up for the Green” is a rousing nationalist ballad that rallies Irish people to lift the green flag again, rejecting English rule and the “orange” and “blue” colours of rival loyalties. With references to John Bull, the Sasanach, Wolfe Tone, and battles like Fontenoy, it sits firmly in the rebel-song tradition and captures the defiant spirit that’s run through Irish political singing for generations.

UP FOR THE GREEN! CINEMATIC Lyrics

’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 old Ireland
alone should here be seen —
’Tis the colour of the martyred
dead, our own immortal green.

Then up for the green, boys, and up for the green!
Though it’s down in the dust,
’tis 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 immortal green!

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.

Then up for the green, boys, and up for the green!
Oh, to die is far better than
be cursed 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!

They may swear, as they often
did, our wretchedness to cure,
But we’ll never trust John Bull
again, nor let his lies allure,
No, we won’t — no, we won’t
— for now nor ever more,
For we’ve hope upon the ocean,
and we’ve trust upon the shore.

Then up for the green, boys, and up for the green!
Shout it back to the Sasanach,
“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!

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 battlefield
of France — at Fontenoy.

Then up for the green, boys, and up for the green!
Though it’s still in the
dust, ’tis 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!

Then up for the green, boys, and up for the green!
Though it’s down in the dust,
’tis 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 immortal green!