'In an English Country Garden' - all Bonkersbon's fault - se...
By spritzhenry
8 comments
As it has been driving me mad trying to remember these words, I researched and finally found them – so here they are. I do not think that it was an English person who wrote these words to the song. Read on (or sing) and you will see what I mean!
How many kind of sweet flowers grow
In an English country garden
I’ll tell you now of some that I know
And those I miss you’ll surely pardon
Daffodils, Heart’s Ease and Phlox
Meadowsweet and Ladysmocks
Gentian, Lupin and tall Hollyhocks
Roses, Foxgloves, Snowdrops, blue Forget-me-nots
In an English country garden.
How many insects come here and go
In an English country garden
I’ll tell you now of some that I know
And those I miss you’ll surely pardon
Fireflies, moths, gnats and bees
Spiders climbing in the trees
Butterflies drift in the gentle breeze
There are snakes, ants that sting
And other creeping things
In an English country garden.
How many songbirds fly to and fro
In an English country garden
I’ll tell you now of some that I know
And those I miss you’ll surely pardon
Bobolink, cuckoo and quail
Tanager and cardinal
Bluebird, lark and nightingale
There is joy in the sprng
When the birds begin to sing
In an English country garden.
Robin, don’t forget the robin
Robin, don’t forget the robin.
So where did the author (unknown) get his/her ideas of the birds to be found in English gardens? I don’t know ‘Bobolinks’ or ‘Tanagers’ and if a Quail appeared and sang I would be very surprised and have my fingers in my ears – don’t they ‘croak’ on moors? We don’t have Bluebirds, either, or Cardinals. Larks frequent fields and Cuckoos are shy birds occasionally found in woods. Shame, really, I like the song. I can find two artists who recorded it – Nana Mouskuri and Jimmy Rodgers. Any advance? Do our friends across the pond know the other birds?
5 Jun, 2008
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Comments
Well this was an american garden because all of these birds are relatively common here and my guess is that he was from the midwest, because the Bobolink and Tanager are usually found in the upper mid west and northeast and Quail are usually found only in the midwest to far west. 3 varities(sp) of Bluebird live in north america and Cardinals are common east of the rocky mountains. My point is that not only was he way off about an English Garden but you would be hard pressed to find all of these in one American Garden. Poetic liscence (sp) was very much at work here!
5 Jun, 2008
Back in the recesses of my mind, I remember the comedian Lance Percival doing a cover version of this (must have been in the 1960s?). Can't remember much about it except he was singing about rubbish and nasties found in the garden instead of all the nice stuff. Does anyone else remember it?
5 Jun, 2008
Yes now that you've jogged my memory I do seem to remember someone doing a thing like that many years ago, but I can't remember who it was. Could have been Lanse Percival.
5 Jun, 2008
Oh dear sorry Spritz and anyone else driven nuts by my original blog I didnt think for a minute it would give people sleepless nights! If its any consolation Spritz you got your own back as I can vaguely recall a childrens tv programme in the early sixties.It featured a puppet made from a mop head as a dog called Fred and was presented by Wally Wighton? and Muriel ...?.How easily we were entertained back then ..anyway Wally would regularly sing this song and sure he released it anyone remember the show ?
5 Jun, 2008
Oh yes we remember it well Spritz....... Do you have the score for this? How about forming a touring G.O.Y choir to give renditions ?
Best wishes,
Grenville and Alan.
5 Jun, 2008
You can serenade me when you come for your visit, Grenville! We don't need a score, we all know the tune. When I googled it, I found that there are various naughty versions 'composed' by children about what they get up to in the garden. Very much toilet humour! I am sure you remember that from your past life, Grenville! All the 'tee hee he said 'bum' chat we had to put up with!
Yes, BB, I used to watch Wally and Muriel with my children who are both parents themselves now! Fancy watching a MOP! Children wouldn't think much of that these days, would they?
5 Jun, 2008
Im sure there are naughty childrens versions etc and I expect some of them are really funny. As you say Spritz-the things we had to put a up with in the classroom....but it made our lives so much richer and instilled a sense of fun and humour.(Here I go again down memory lane!!!)
Anyway, its great that we can share some of the fun on this site as well. I will make sure my voice is in tune when we meet.
Best wishes,
Grenville.
6 Jun, 2008
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I have a CD with someome playing this on the piano but no words. I'll have to learn them so that I can sing along to the music. LOL .
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