Green Grow the Rushes O

by Charles de Lint

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Here's an old soundboard recording of a classic song by Robert Burns offered up to you for Robbie Burns Day. The correct title is "Green Grow the Rashes" but this is how I learned it back in the seventies, probably from the late Joe McFadden.

The recording comes from Patty's Pub here in Ottawa where MaryAnn and I had a residency, playing pretty much every Thursday night for ten years. Various musicians sat in with us over that time but the most regular participant was fiddler Don Fletcher.

lyrics

there’s naught but care on ev’ry hand, in ev’ry hour that passes-o
what signifies the life of man, an’ t’were not for the lasses-o

refrain:
green grow the rushes-o, green grow the rushes-o
the sweetest hours that e’re I spent, were spent among the lasses-o

the worldly race may riches chase, an’ riches still may fly them-o
an’ though at last they catch them fast, their hearts can ne’er enjoy them-o
gie me a cannie hour at e’en, my arms around my dearie-o
an’ warly cares an’ warly men, may a’ gae tapsalteerie-o

auld nature swears the lovely dears, her noblest work she classes-o
her ‘prentice han’ she try’d on man, an’ then she made the lasses-o

for you sae grave ye sneer at this, ye’re not but senseless asses-o
the wisest man the world e’er saw, he dearly loved the lasses-o

credits

released January 25, 2021
Recorded at Patty's Pub, Ottawa, ON, Canada, March 18, 2004

Charles de Lint - vocals, guitar
MaryAnn Harris - mandolin, vocals
Don Fletcher - fiddle

Lyrics; Robert Burns, 1783
Tune: traditional

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about

Charles de Lint Ottawa, Ontario

A full-time writer and musician, this author of more than eighty adult, young adult, and children’s books has won the World Fantasy, Aurora, Sunburst, and White Pine awards, among others. Modern Library's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century poll, voted on by readers, put eight of de Lint's books among the top 100. De Lint is also a poet, artist, songwriter, performer and folklorist. ... more

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