Lyr Req/Add: Roses of Picardy (Weatherly/Wood)

Subject: Roses Of Piccardy (sp?)
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 07:19 AM

I'd like the words to this old WWI song ("Roses are blooming in Piccardy ..."). I tried a forum/DT search, but all I could come up with was a mention of the title.
The chords would be nice, too, if someone has them, because I'm not sure about the middle part of the tune.
Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roses Of Piccardy (sp?)
From: Brakn
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 08:34 AM

Music by Haydn Wood with lyrics by Frederick E. Weatherley, 1916
(Weatherley also wrote the words to Danny Boy)

Roses of Picardy
(Wood, Weatherly)

Roses are shining in Picardy
In the hush of the silvery dew
Roses are flowering in Picardy
But there's never a rose like you!

And the roses will die with the summertime
And our roads may be far, far apart
But there's one rose that dies not in Picardy
'Tis the rose that I keep in my heart!

And the roses will die with the summertime
And our roads may be far, far apart
But there's one rose that dies not in Picardy
'Tis the rose that I keep in my heart!

I got these off a Perry Como site.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roses Of Piccardy (sp?)
From: Frank Maher
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 09:18 AM

Hi Genie, If You Wouldn't mind sending Me Your e-mail address, I will send You the Song..It's sung by John McCormack, and It's the best Rendition of It.. Frank

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roses Of Piccardy (sp?)
From: Peter T.
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 10:02 AM

I do not have this handy, but there is a long intro, if I recall.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: Lyr Add: ROSES OF PICARDY (Weatherly/Wood)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 12:14 PM

Full sheet music, with piano accompaniment and ukelele tablature, is available online at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

ROSES OF PICARDY

ROSES OF PICARDY
Words by Fred E. Weatherly, music by Haydn Wood. ©1916.

1. She is watching by the poplars,
Colinette with the sea-blue eyes,
She is watching and longing and waiting
Where the long white roadway lies.
And a song that stirs in the silence,
As the winds in the boughs above,
She listens and starts and trembles,
'Tis the first little song of love:

CHORUS: Roses are shining in Picardy in the hush of the silver dew,
Roses are flow'ring in Picardy, but there's never a rose like you!
And the roses will die with the summertime, and our roads may be far apart,
But there's one rose that dies not in Picardy! 'tis the rose that I keep in my heart!

2. And the years fly on forever,
'Til the shadows veil their skies,
But he loves to hold her little hands,
And look in her sea-blue eyes.
And she sees the road by the poplars,
Where they met in the bygone years,
For the first little song of the roses
Is the last little song she hears: CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roses Of Piccardy (sp?)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 01:46 PM

I've never come across the verses before. 1916? I'd always assumed it was earlier than that, that it was pre-war from some musical comedy, and got picked up by the troops, like Tipperary, and picked up associations with the war accidentally.

But if it was 1916 it had to be written with the war in mind.

Here's a link to another World War Song with flowers that we managed to find through the Mudcat recently - When the Poppies Bloom Again

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roses Of Piccardy (sp?)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 10:53 AM

This page has the lyrics AND a recording of John McCormack singing "Roses of Picardy." The song starts playing automatically when you go to the page. (For some reason, when I did it, I ended up with 2 copies of the song playing at once, out of sync. I had to cancel one of them.)

Alternatively, you might be able to download this: "http://www.westfront.de/roses of picardy.mp3"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roses Of Piccardy (sp?)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 06:39 PM

We have 20 LPs by John McCormack that, some day, I want to put on CDs for Carol since our turntable gave up the ghost. And I WILL do that---but not right now.

Art

Subject: REChord Req: Roses of Picardy
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 06:47 PM

[e-mail] needs chords to Roses of Picardy.

ThANKS IN ADVANCE .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roses of Picardy
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 10:17 PM

If you go to the Levy Sheet Music collection linked above, click on Search, enter Roses of Picardy and title, it will bring up a copy of the song that has the chords pencilled in. It also has ukelele chords. I suppose they can be used by guitar as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roses of Picardy
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 06:45 PM

I've just noticed the date of the song I linked to there - and it gives the title a whole new meaning to put a shiver up your spine.

It's 1939.

When the poppies bloom again, I'll remember you....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roses of Picardy
From: GUEST
Date: 08 May 08 - 06:05 PM

how can i actually listen to this song!?
i cant seem to find it anywhere on the internet!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roses of Picardy
From: 12-stringer
Date: 08 May 08 - 06:29 PM

go here:

http://www.firstworldwar.com/audio/rosesofpicardy.htm

Gazoodles of WWI songs at this site.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Roses of Picardy
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 08 May 08 - 11:04 PM

John McDermott does this on his war themed CD REMEMBRANCE 1999 - I picked it up used for 50 cents and it's grown on me over the years. I used to hold that he was just a fair voiced fellow exploiting the nostsalgia market but I've changed my mind. He's got a pleasant enough voice and on this CD he brings together songs about War, against war and so on from The American Civil War forward. there is a healthy dose of Schmaltz in some of his choices and interpretations but Roses of Picardy. The Flowers of the Forest and The Faded Coat of Blue are quite nice.

Look for this CD in the used bins - it's certainly well worth the 50 cents I paid for it!

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Roses of Picardy
From: GUEST,bharrell
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 09:37 PM

Forget the lyric, it the melody that is so haunting and beautiful, and the best rendition of it is by George Shearing. But the roses have bloomed a long time-94 years it is now. An English Captain met an fell in love with a french woman who was widowed by the war. He was inspired to write the music. The lyrics were added in l916 and the song became a favorite of the Brits. This is incomplete. Somebody add the names. Haydn was the first name.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Roses of Picardy
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 03:33 PM

Thanks for all the posts. I enjoyed listening to the old recording.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Roses of Picardy
From: Lighter
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 01:35 PM

June Tabor's performance of the song may be unsurpassed.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Roses of Picardy
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 03:55 PM

Peter Dawson also sang this song (wonderfully). I'm a big fan of both him and Count John but I must confess I haven't heard the latter's version.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Roses of Picardy
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 01:42 PM

If you can get Spotify it has both Peter Dawson's rendering and the Count's (as well as many lesser ones).

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Roses of Picardy
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 01:58 PM

My great grandad had a fist fight with John McCormack's dad in a dispute over the factory foreman's job. My great grandad lost both the fight and the job. I have no idea why I'm telling you this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Roses of Picardy
From: GUEST,Michael
Date: 19 Sep 18 - 12:33 PM

The lyrics in the second verse are beautiful. But what's implied by them? "The years fly on for ever..." "The first little song of the roses is the last little song she hears..."Is her life now coming to its end?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Roses of Picardy
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Sep 18 - 11:38 PM

I found the sheet music for this on the IMSLP site. Talk about Tin Pan Alley! The introduction to this has sharps I've never seen before.

I changed the key from D to C to simplify it, but I dunno if I will ever work out chords to this. I'm hoping to play it on my accordion.