The House of Orange (song)
Encyclopedia
The House of Orange is a Stan Rogers
song about The Troubles
, in particular about fundraising for the Irish Republican extremists in Canada
. The overall sentiment of the song is the IRA is terrorizing not just the British, but also Catholics in Northern Ireland. Protestant extremism is also condemned The 'House of Orange' mentioned in the song is the royal house of William III of England
, the Dutch prince who led the Protestant side of the Williamite war in Ireland
. It is on his posthumous CD From Fresh Water
. This is the last song written by Stan Rogers before his death, and arguably among his most lyrically evocative.
The final verse:
All rights and all wrongs have long since blown away, /
For causes are ashes where children lie slain. /
Yet the damned U.D.L. and the cruel I.R.A. /
Will tomorrow go murdering again. /
But no penny of mine will I add to the fray. /
"Remember the Boyne!" they will cry out in vain, /
For I've given my heart to the place I was born /
And forgiven the whole House of Orange /
King Billy and the whole House of Orange
Stan Rogers
Stanley Allison "Stan" Rogers was a Canadian folk musician and songwriter.Rogers was noted for his rich, baritone voice and his finely crafted, traditional-sounding songs which were frequently inspired by Canadian history and the daily lives of working people, especially those from the fishing...
song about The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
, in particular about fundraising for the Irish Republican extremists in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The overall sentiment of the song is the IRA is terrorizing not just the British, but also Catholics in Northern Ireland. Protestant extremism is also condemned The 'House of Orange' mentioned in the song is the royal house of William III of England
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, the Dutch prince who led the Protestant side of the Williamite war in Ireland
Williamite war in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
. It is on his posthumous CD From Fresh Water
From Fresh Water
From Fresh Water is a 1984 album by Stan Rogers. It was one of a series of concept albums Rogers intended to do about the regions of Canada...
. This is the last song written by Stan Rogers before his death, and arguably among his most lyrically evocative.
The final verse:
All rights and all wrongs have long since blown away, /
For causes are ashes where children lie slain. /
Yet the damned U.D.L. and the cruel I.R.A. /
Will tomorrow go murdering again. /
But no penny of mine will I add to the fray. /
"Remember the Boyne!" they will cry out in vain, /
For I've given my heart to the place I was born /
And forgiven the whole House of Orange /
King Billy and the whole House of Orange