I came across an email from Julia Lane that I received some time ago, and I don't think it has been posted.
Hi Joe- here's what I have on the "Orange Alphabet /ABC"
Basically it seems to have been created to "educate" young boys during the forming of the Orange Order in 1795
It is discussed here
Ulster's Men: Protestant Unionist Masculinities and Militarization in the ...
By Jane G.V. McGaughey
McGill - Queens Univ Press 2012 ISBN 978-0-7735-3972-3 pp37
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Ulster_s_Men/vbUjbk_TyPsC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=A%20stands%20for
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Merritt actually recites it, but the tune for others I found is, ironically, "The Wearing of the Green". His lyrics, though obviously for the same purpose, are very different than the others. There are gaps where I could not decipher the words
The Orange Alphabet
William Merritt, Ludlow, ME 1941
Helen Hartness Flanders Collection
D 14B 01 side A 0:46
https://archive.org/details/HHFBC_tapes_D14B
A is for the Ark which by six beasts was carried around
Till the strong walls of Jericho come dashing to the ground
B stands for Boyne where freedom won the day
And dark superstition forever's lost it's way
C is for the Covering which for the Ark was made
Of badger skins and goat hair and by cunning workmen laid
D stands for Derry in Ireland it is found
It never has been conquered; it is still an Orange town
E is for Lord Elgin his majesty upheld
A principal of honesty and righteousness as well
F is for the Faith for which which all Orangemen assay
If their trust has been well-founded and their morals not depraved.
G stands for Gideon who with three hundred men
A mighty host of Middeons scattered and rolled? upon the plain
H stands for Horeb in which we all have stood
To teach us---- that Moses talked with God
I stands for Israel from whence the tribes arose
They were God's chosen people and they conquered all their foes
J stands for Judas who by transgression fell
More worthy---- or so the scriptures tell
K is for King William- he's the champion of our cause
The founder of good morals and a maker of good laws
L is for the Ladder in Jacob's vision was seen
It reached--- to heaven while the angels walked between
M is for the Manna on which the children fed
For forty years in the wilderness when by our Saviour led
N No Surrender on our banners it does appear
It's the watchword of our order, it's meaning plain and clear
O is the Obligations - one, two, three, four and five
And they're taken on the Bible to be kept while we're alive
P is for the Plates which -----our people were sent
For all the prosecutions that Israel underwent
Q is for Quickness with which relief is found
If a brother he is needy and the word is passed around
R is for the Rod which bore fruit in one short night
To teach all future rebels that Jehovah's laws are right
S is for the Serpent which to Eve did ------ appear
But the Orangeman still meets him when least expected near
T is for the--------- in half
When I was nine and could't see it almost made me laugh
U is for Union; in one we are met
travel and our precepts ne'er forget
V is for the Virgin; the Saviour she did bear
degree you'll find his first name is written there
W is for our --------------- displayed
And if you can rightly find it you need not be afraid
X, in Exodus it is plainly---------
-------- came from bondage and they gained the Promised Land
Y stands for Yat in the Hebrew alphabet
It has a hidden meaning and you may find it yet
Now with Z I'm sorely troubled, but I'll bid you all adieu
But if you've traveled the road that I have traveled it will be made plain to you
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there is a broadside here -
http://www.itma.ie/images/uploads/1937bs7.pdf
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also here http://www.angelfire.com/vt/Kevinclark/songs.htm
uses the tune “Wearing of the Green/ Rising of the moon"
The Orange ABC??
A song I am going to sing to you,
?If you but listen unto me -?
There is nothing curious in it, boys,
?And that you will plainly see.?
It is all about six verses
?Of our Orange A,B,C.
??Chorus?
Then it is judge for yourselves, boys,
?And listen unto me-
?We will turn the leaf once more, my boys,?
And sing our Orange A,B,C.??
A stands for Aughrim, where blood flowed on the plains, and?
B is for Boyne Water, there bones do still remain;?
C stands for Culmore, where crossing it did fall, and ?
D I am sure you all know well's our Maiden Derry Walls.??
E is for Enniskillen, where nobly they did join, and?
F is for these fathers who conquered at the Boyne;?
G is for that great General that fought at our right hand,?
H is for Hanover, from that land King William came.??
I is for the Israelites that crossed over Jordan's streams, and?
J stands for Joshua, our guide he still remains;?
K for Knox, Scotch Reformer, who for the truth did stand,?
L stands for Luther, his doctrines we'll commend.??
M stands for Moses, as he viewed the land,?
N stands for Noah, who built the ark at God's command;?
O stands for Orange, a colour you all have worn, and?
P is purple, with which the ark was borne.??
Q is for the Question you are asked at the door;?
R is for the Road, my boys, some of you have trod before;?
S is for the Secret you're sure there to find, and?
T is for the Travels you will always bear in mind.
??U stands for Unity, in which we all should join?
V is for the great Victory we gained at the Boyne;?
W stands for William, our famous commodore; and
?X is my last letter, and you can ask for nothing more.
http://orangesongbook.blogspot.com/2011/05/orange-abc.html
The Orange ABC (V)
A song I am going to sing to you,
If you’ll but listen me
There’s nothing curious in it, boys,
And that you’ll plainly see
It’s a song that every Orangeman, can sing with loyalty
Some simple homely verses of, our Orange A,B,C. Now
A it stands for Aughrim, where blood flowed on the plains, and
B is for Boyne Water, there bones do still remain; and
C stands for Culmore, where crossing it we had our falls; and
D I’m sure you all know well's our Maiden Derry Walls. Oh
E ‘s for Enniskillen, where nobly they did join, and
F is for those fathers brave, who conquered at the Boyne;
G’s for that great General who fought at our right hand; and
H is for Hanover, which is great King William’s land.
Chorus
Then it is judge for yourselves, boys,
And listen unto me
We ‘ll turn the leaf,
And sing this full, our Orange A,B,C. But
I is for the Israelites that crossed the Jordan's streams, and
J it stands for Joshua, our guide he still remains; Our
K for Knox, Scotch Reformer, who for the truth did stand; and
L stands for Martin Luther, whose great doctrines we'll commend. While
M stands still for Moses, as he reviewed the land; Good
N it stands for Noah, who built the ark at God's command; and
O it stands for Orange, a colour you’ll have worn, and
P it is for purple, with which the ark was borne.
Then it is judge for yourselves, boys,
And listen unto me
We ‘ll turn the leaf,
And sing it still, our Orange A,B,C. Now
Q is for the Question, they ask you at the door; and
R is for the Road, my boys, that some has trod before; and
S is for the Secret you're searchin there to find; while
T is for the Travels, you will always bear in mind. Good
U it stands for Unity, in which we all should join; and
V is for the Victory we conquered at the Boyne;
W stands for William, our famous commodore; and
X is my last letter, and you can ask for nothing more.
Then it is judge for yourselves, boys,
And listen unto me
We ‘ll turn the leaf,
And sing it still, our Orange A,B,C.(X2)
-----------
The Makem Family sang it-
Alphabet Song (Roud 22855)
From the Makem Family recordings
A it stands for sweet Armagh
That city I adore
And B stands for bold Brian Boru
The Danish colours tore
And C it stands for Charlemount
Where the tyrant had to quell
And D stands for Dungannon
That sweet belle place of Ó Neill
E it stands for Emmet
For his country he did die
And F it stands for Fontenoy
Where the English had to fly
And G it stands for Grattan
Now his laws we all do vote
And H it stands for bold Hugh Ó Neill
That hero of Tyrone
I it stands for Inishdale (?)
Where Owen Roe's force had fled
And J stands for John Mitchell
For his country he had bled
And K it stands for sweet Kildare
That old historial town
And L it stands for Limerick
That city of renown
M it stands for Mayo
Where the Boycotts had to fly
And N it stands for Newgate
Where Lord Edward he did die
And O stands for Ó Connell
Now the truth to you I'll tell
And P for that young patriot
Called Charles Stewart Parnell
Q it stands for Queenstown
Where Owen Roe first set sail
To bear across the Atlantic wave
The harp of Grainne Ui Mhaol
And R it stands for ancient Rome
Where the Pope now he does dwell
And S it stands for Sarsfield
Who nobly fought and fell
T it stands for Tara Hill
That hill of high renown
And U stands for the Ulster boys
That broke through Cromwell's line
(spoken ... And V it stands for victory
That was won at Fontenoy
And W stands for young Wolfe Tone
Who in his grave does lie ...
I don't know the rest)
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