Song for the Twelfth of July

 by John Frazier and Seán Tyrrell

This song is about the ongoing conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. On the 12^th of July, the Orangemen hold parades in commemoration of William of Orange's victory over James II in the Battle of the Boyne. This tradition began in the late eighteenth century, and has long been an occasion for sectarian violence. 12^th of July celebrations were banned in the 1830's and 40's; soon after their reinstatement, Protestant cabinetmaker John Frazier wrote this poem. Seán Tyrrell wrote to me: "Of all the poems I set to music that is my favourite of all. It is also my favourite love song and I have recorded many." 

I'm influenced here by Cathie Ryan's version on her 1997 self-titled album. She made a few minor changes to the melody.

Come pledge again your heart and your hand

One grasp that never will sever

Our password be our native land

Our motto love forever

And let the orange lily be

Your badge, my patriot brother

It's the everlasting green for me

And we for one another

Behold how green the gallant stem

On which the flower is blowing

How in one heavenly breeze and beam

Both flower and stem are glowing

The same good soil sustaining both

Makes both united to flourish

But cannot give the orange growth

And cease the green to nourish

The more the hand that plucks that flower

Will vainly strive to cherish

In that hour the stem blooms on

But the flower it begins to perish

Regard them then of equal worth

While lasts their genial weather

The time's at hand when deep in earth

They will both sink together

And though it be in our country's cause

Our party feelings blended

'Till lasting peace from equal laws

On both will have descended

'Till then the orange lily be

Your badge, my patriot brother

It's the everlasting green for me

And we for one another

And we for one another