"Wearing of the Green", John McCormack with orchestra

HMV Victor (RS BW) 788-B (Manufactured by The Berliner Gram-O-Phone Co. LTD of Montreal)
"Wearing Of The Green", (Old Irish), John McCormack with orch. Originally issued circa 1923. Played on my VV-50. Note on this side of the record McCormack is identified as an English Tenor, on the flip side, a less politically charged number he is listed simply as Tenor. I hope you enjoy.

Here are slightly different lyrics with two extra verses from Wikipedia:
O Paddy dear, an' did ye hear the news that's goin' round?
The shamrock is by law forbid to grow on Irish ground;
St. Patrick's Day no more we'll keep, his colour can't be seen,
For there's a cruel law agin the wearin' o' the Green.

I met wid Napper Tandy1 and he took me by the hand,
And he said, "How's dear ould Ireland, and how does she stand?"
She's the most distressful country that ever yet was seen,
For they're hangin' men an' women there for the wearin' o' the Green.

Then since the colour we must wear is England's cruel red,
Sure Ireland's sons will ne'er forget the blood that they have shed,
You may take a shamrock from your hat and cast it on the sod,
It will take root and flourish there though underfoot it's trod.

When law can stop the blades of grass from growin' as they grow,
And when the leaves in summer-time their colour dare not show,
Then will I change the colour, too, I wear in my caubeen
But 'till that day, please God, I'll stick to wearin' o' the Green.

But if at last our colour should be torn from Ireland's heart,
Her sons with shame and sorrow from the dear old isle will part;
I've heard a whisper of a land that lies beyond the sea
Where rich and poor stand equal in the light of freedom's day.

O Erin, must we leave you driven by a tyrant's hand?
Must we ask a mother's blessing from a strange and distant land?
Where the cruel cross of England shall nevermore be seen,
And where, please God, we'll live and die still wearin' o' the green!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wearing_of_the_Green

Also don't forget to visit the John McCormack Society here: http://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Victor
• Victrola
• McCormack
• Irish
• Ireland
• rebel
• patriotic
• phonograph
• RedSeal
• 1923
• 1920's

[c1ineurekaca]

I'm sorry I was not able to embed your video on my "blob" or make a clicakable link but I was able to post the address which can be pasted. You can see it by accessing my profile (I think). Top o' the heap o' good luck to ye.

[fuzzbear6240]

Christine, Thank you for that! I often have trouble figuring out how to embed and post links myself. I can't wait for the day when we can just talk to our computers in plain English! :-)

Happy St. Patrick's Day. May the road rise to meet you......

Regards, J.

[Bustereebob]

Thank you. I need windshield wipers on my eyes.

[fuzzbear6240]

Bustereebob, Thank you. I'm very glad you enjoyed McCormack's great performance. It's one of my personal favorites.

Regards, J.

[shawndalakiddio]

McCormack is wonderful. I love this song, aswell. Have you ever heard the more recent recordings where an early accoustic phonograph was placed in the middle of a concert hall and then a recording was made of the hall, itself. It sounded like McCormack was on stage. Very realistic. Such a peaceful sound!

[fuzzbear6240]

Shawndalakiddio, No I haven't heard of that recording-sounds like quite an interesting idea. I'll have to keep an eye out for it. 'Glad you enjoyed the clip, thanks for the kind words. Regards, J.

[petekernow1]

How could anyone dislike this - even if the song is pure (and very skilful) political propaganda? But then it is sung by the greatest singer of all time! My discography gives 2 recordings of this song, much earlier than stated, in 1904 and 1912. The earlier one may well have been a cylinder originally. The Count obviously backed off from songs like this/Croppy Boy/Boys of Wexford/God save Ireland as his career took off internationally. But what a voice!!

[Dannys998877]

He really throws himself into Wearing of the Green. How on earth could Victor identify John McCormack as an "English Tenor?" I've never heard him sing the English ("Danny Boy") lyrics of Londonderry Air. I've only heard his own "O Mary Dear" lyrics. But he was probably OK with the English. After all, some of his greatest operatic triumphs were at Covent Garden.

[freebeerfordworkers]

@Propblast6 Ignorance is not confined to England this was the march of my city regiment the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Armies do not worry too much about these things the Scots and Welch regiments also march to anti-English tunes. Did you know that sole act of the Napper Tandy mentioned in the song was to land in the West of Ireland after the 1798 rebellion was over and get so drunk he had to be carried back to the ship?

[agatematt]

Legend has it that one morning in a hotel dining room, John McCormick saw Enrico Caruso having breakfast and walked up to his table and greeted him with: "So, how is the world's greatest tenor this morning?" Without even looking up, Caruso replied "How would I know? I'm not John McCormick!" Caruso was right!

[sandyrow100]

@Propblast6 interesting but odd point, one would have thought Irishmen could at least understand if not sympathise with people who are disenchanted with their rulers and wanted independence. Not unlike Irishmen who wanted independence from England

[happygael]

Thanks for posting Fuzzbear.

Propblast thanks for the history. I served with the 69th back when the world was young. Tahnks for those words tinsista. I guess thanks to everybody and God Bless

[Propblast6]

The 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment is still in business "Faugh an Beallach". England ignorance and oppresion has been America's blessing.

[Propblast6]

The Irish brought "Garry Owen" to America which has terrorized her enemies ever since. Especially when the Yankee Cavalry is turned loose. Bufford's Cavalry Brigade and the Irish Brigade bought time for the Union to survive. The Regimental legend is that at Appomattox Court House at the Surrender of the Southern Army George Custer was told by a West Point classmate "The Only reason we lost is you all had a hell of a lot more Irishers than we did and they ain't got no quite in em"

[fuzzbear6240]

Tinsista, (Sorry for the delay in responding.) Thank you yet again. That is a lovely verse-thank you for sharing it. Remember history and work for a better future!

Regards, J.