Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen My father he was orange and me mother she was green
Oh my father was an Ulsterman, proud Protestant was he Me 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, my father's shining star I was christened David Anthony, but still in spite of that To my father I was William while me 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 played the flute or played 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
Now when I'd sing those rebel songs, much to me mother's joy, My father would jump and say "Look here would you me boy. That's quite enough of that lot", he'd then toss me a coin. And he'd have me sing the Orange Flute or the Heroes of The Boyne
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 sittin' 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
Now 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 both passed on, god rest them, 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 HEY!