Green Grow the Lilacs



cho: Green grow the lilacs, all sparkling with dew

I'm lonely, my darling, since parting with you;

But by our next meeting IU'll hope to prove true

And change the green lilacs to the Red, White and Blue.



I once had a sweetheart, but now I have none

She's gone and she's left me, I care not for one

Since she's gone and left me, contented I'll be,

For she loves another one better than me.



cho:



I passed my love's window, both early and late

The look that she gave me, it makes my heart ache;

Oh, the look that she gave me was painful to see,

For she loves another one better than me.



cho:



I wrote my love letters in rosy red lines,

She sent me an answer all twisted and twined;

Saying,"Keep your love letters and I will keep mine

Just you write to your love and I'll write to mine."



Note: After Wildwood Flower, this may be the most universally

folk-processed song ever. Every version I've seen has at least

one alternate locution; I decided that it wasn't worth listing

all the variants I've encountered. Lilacs, or Laurels; Red White

and Blue or Orange and Blue; "sparkling with dew" or "all wet

with the dew" or "and so does the rue" ;"twisted and twined" or

"twisted with twine" --- etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Nobody's

quite sure what the words mean (in detail, that is), and probably

a lot of the singers mumbled a good deal; in any case, don't

worry too much and enjoy. It's a great tune. Oh yes, the story

about this being the basis for the Mexican epithet of "gringo" is

most likely pure fakelore. RG



Recorded by the Mitchell Trio, Tony Kraber

@soldier @cowboy @love

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RG

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