AN ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN
(Traditional?)

How many kinds 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: (or, "I hope you'll pardon")
Daffodils, heart's-ease, and phlox,
Meadow-sweet and lady's-smocks
Gentian, lupine, and tall hollyhocks.
Roses, foxgloves, snowdrops, blue forget-me-nots
In an English country garden.

How many insects find their homes
In an English country garden?
I'll tell you now of some that I know,
And those I miss, you'll surely pardon:
Dragonflies, moths, and bees, (or "Fireflies, moths, gnats, and bees")
Spiders falling from (or "climbing in") the trees
Butterflies drift in the mild gentle breeze.
There are hedgehogs that roam (or "There are snakes, ants that sting,")
And little garden gnomes (or "And other creeping things")
In an English country garden.

How many songbirds fly to and fro, (or "their plumage show")
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
Bluebirds, lark, finch (or "thrush"), and nightingale.
There is joy in the spring
When the birds begin to sing
In an English country garden.

Collated from several versions found on the Internet.
Although the tune is an old Morris dance tune, the first known recording of thes
e words was by American pop singer Jimmie [F] Rodgers (not to be confused with J
immie Rodgers, the "Singing Brakeman") in the 1960's.
It was reissued on "Sweeter Than Wine," 1999.
Also recorded by Nana Mouskouri and others.
One commentator says bluebirds do not exist in England, and cites this as eviden
ce that the words are American in origin.
Rodgers' recording was a hit in England, however.
@plant
filename[ CNTYGAR1
AD, JTD
mudcat.org

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