"The Orange and the Green" or "The Biggest Mix-Up" is a humorous Irish folk song about a man whose father was a Presbyterian Protestant ("Orange") and whose mother was a Roman Catholic ("Green"). It describes the man's trials as the product of religious intermarriage and how "mixed up" he became as a result of such an upbringing.
This song was written by Anthony Murphy of Liverpool, and has been recorded by bands such as The Irish Rovers, The Wolfe Tones, Paddy Reilly, the Brobdingnagian Bards, Marc Gunn, and The Spinners and among others. It is sung to the same tune as "The Wearing of the Green", which is also used in "The Rising of the Moon", another Irish ballad, and "The Army of the Free”, an American song.
Lyrics:
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.
My father was an Ulster man, proud Protestant was he.
My mother was a Catholic girl, from county Cork was she.
They were married in two churches, lived happily enough,
Until the day that I was born and things got rather tough.
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.
Baptized by Father Riley, I was rushed away by car,
To be made a little Orangeman, me father's shining star.
I was christened "David Anthony, " but still, inspite of that,
To me father, I was William, while my mother called me Pat.
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.
With Mother every Sunday, to Mass I'd proudly stroll.
Then after that, the Orange lodge would try to save my soul.
For both sides tried to claim me, but i was smart because
I'd play the flute or play the harp, depending where I was.
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.
One day me Ma's relations came round to visit me.
Just as my father's kinfolk were all sitting down to tea.
We tried to smooth things over, but they all began to fight.
And me, being strictly neutral, I bashed everyone in sight.
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.
My parents never could agree about my type of school.
My learning was all done at home, that's why I'm such a fool.
They've both passed on, God rest 'em, but left me caught between
That awful color problem of the Orange and the Green.
Oh it is the biggest mix up that you have ever seen
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.
Yes it is the biggest mix up that you have ever seen
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.