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Green Grows the Laurels

from Sweet Anne's Road by Jim Sharkey

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about

This is a traditional song. Some say the origin of the word "gringo" comes from the singing of songs such as GREEN GROW THE LILACS; GREEN GROW THE RUSHES-O; OR GREEN GROWS THE LAURELS by US soldiers during the time of the Mexican-American War in 1846. But from what I have read it doesn't seem to be true. Still, I did think of this song as a kind of echo to "Man Without A Country", a song I wrote about the San Patricio Brigade in that war who fought on the side of Mexico.

lyrics

GREEN GROWS THE LAUREL
(Traditional)
Green grows the laurel and soft falls the dew
Sad was my heart when I parted from you
And in our next meeting I hope you'll prove true
Never change the green laurel for the violets so blue

I once had a sweetheart but now she is gone
She's gone and she's left me I'm here all alone
And since she has left me content I must be
I know she loves someone far better than me

I wrote her a letter so loving and kind
She wrote me another with sharp bitter lines
Saying, Keep your love letters and I will keep mine
And you write to your love and I'll write to mine

She passed by my window both early and late
And the looks that she gave me would make your heart ache
The looks that she gave me ten thousand would kill
Wherever she wanders she'll be my love still

I once was as happy as the red blushing rose
But now I'm as pale as the lily that grows
Like the tree in the garden with its beauty all gone
Can't you see what I've come to from the loving of one
REPEAT FIRST VERSE

credits

from Sweet Anne's Road, released October 11, 2016

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Jim Sharkey Portland, Maine

Songwriter Jim Sharkey is an Irish and Americana folk musician. Jim grew up in County Roscommon, Ireland. He plays around the northeastern US. Jim's original songs blend Irish traditional ballad influences with contemporary issues.

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