Green Grow the Lilacs
Encyclopedia
Green Grow the Lilacs is a folk song of Irish
origin that was popular in the United States
during the mid-19th century.
The song title is familiar as the source of a false etymology
for the word gringo
: the myth states that the Mexicans misheard U.S. troops singing "green grow" during the Mexican-American War.
The song appears in the 1931 play of the same name by Lynn Riggs
. Green Grow the Lilacs became the basis of the libretto
for the Rodgers and Hammerstein
musical Oklahoma!
.
The song appears in an LP album by Tony Kraber.
The glossary at the back of the play suggests that "changing the green lilacs to the Red, White and Blue" means "I am going to join the army".
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
origin that was popular in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the mid-19th century.
The song title is familiar as the source of a false etymology
False etymology
Folk etymology is change in a word or phrase over time resulting from the replacement of an unfamiliar form by a more familiar one. Unanalyzable borrowings from foreign languages, like asparagus, or old compounds such as samblind which have lost their iconic motivation are...
for the word gringo
Gringo
Gringo is a slang Spanish and Portuguese word used in Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries in Latin America, to denote foreigners, often from the United States. The term can be applied to someone who is actually a foreigner, or it can denote a strong association or assimilation into...
: the myth states that the Mexicans misheard U.S. troops singing "green grow" during the Mexican-American War.
The song appears in the 1931 play of the same name by Lynn Riggs
Lynn Riggs
Rollie Lynn Riggs was an author, poet and playwright born on a farm near Claremore, Oklahoma. His mother was 1/8 Cherokee, and when he was two years old, his mother secured his Cherokee allotment for him. He was able to draw on his allotment to help support his writing...
. Green Grow the Lilacs became the basis of the libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
for the Rodgers and Hammerstein
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were a well-known American songwriting duo, usually referred to as Rodgers and Hammerstein. They created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s during what is considered the golden age of the medium...
musical Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
.
The song appears in an LP album by Tony Kraber.
Versions
There are many different versions of the lyrics. However, one version of the lyrics opens:The glossary at the back of the play suggests that "changing the green lilacs to the Red, White and Blue" means "I am going to join the army".
External links
- Green Grow The Lilacs production credits, Internet Broadway DatabaseInternet Broadway DatabaseThe Internet Broadway Database is an online database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel. It is operated by the Research Department of The Broadway League, a trade association for the North American commercial theatre community....
- Green Grow The Lilacs - version by Larry W Jones