lavender blue

"Lavender Blue", also called "Lavender's blue", is a folk song dating to the 17th century. It was Burl Ives's first hit song, which reintroduced it to popularity in the 20th century. Like any song of such antiquity, there are many variations on the lyrics. The most interesting variation, though, is that the original words to the chorus were "Lavender's blue (dilly dilly) Rosemary's green", while in all modern versions the chorus has become "Lavender's blue (dilly dilly) Lavender's green", which makes less sense. Although there are as many as thirty verses to the song, most versions go about like this:

Lavender's blue, dilly dilly, lavender's green,

When I am king, dilly, dilly, you shall be queen.

Who told you so, dilly, dilly, who told you so?

'Twas my own heart, dilly, dilly, that told me so.

Call up your men, dilly, dilly, set them to work

Some with a rake, dilly, dilly, some with a fork.

Some to make hay, dilly, dilly, some to thresh corn.

While you and I, dilly, dilly, keep ourselves warm.

Lavender's green, dilly, dilly, Lavender's blue,

If you love me, dilly, dilly, I will love you.

Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly, And the lambs play;

We shall be safe, dilly, dilly, Out of harm's way.