Now I am confused!

In the song, The Bluebells (or Blue Bells) of Scotland, I had always thought bluebells was one word and referred to the beautiful wildflower (bluebell) that's blooming now. I've seen both one word and two words for the title of the song.

Besides the words that Lesley quotes above which say at the sign of the blue bell, there are these words: He dwelt in bonnie Scotland where bloom the sweet bluebells - from Barry Taylor's Tunebook at Lesley's site.

Then another instance of the bluebell flower is: Around us for gladness the bluebells were springing - from The Ash Grove at the DT.

So it appears to me that The Bluebells (or Blue Bells) of Scotland has two titles and at least two sets of lyrics. Bluebell as one word seems to be a flower. When written as two words, maybe it's an inn. And maybe that's where the word "sign" comes in.

I'd love to hear more definitive answers, but in the meantime, I'll always think of the bluebells I got from my grandmother's garden.

Mary