The lyric from “The Wearing of the Green” is “For the wearing of the green.”
“The Wearing of the Green” is an Irish street ballad about the persecution of supporters of the 1798 Irish Rebellion. Green became associated with the Society of United Irishmen, whose supporters wore green clothing, ribbons or cockades. In some versions, the “green” specifically refers to shamrock rather than fabric.
The song exists in many forms. An early version appeared in 1802 as “Green on my Cape,” while later versions connected the narrator with figures such as Robert Emmet, Napoleon Bonaparte or Napper Tandy. The best-known text was adapted by Dion Boucicault for his 1864 play “Arragh na Pogue, or the Wicklow Wedding.”
The tune was published in “The Citizen, or Dublin Monthly Magazine” between January and June 1841. It was later reused for songs including “The Rising of the Moon.” The title is sometimes confused with modern Saint Patrick’s Day customs, but the original ballad is specifically a political lament about Irish rebellion, exile and repression.