Lyr Req: Sweet Violets

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Violets
From: Greenie
Date: 28 May 18 - 02:16 AM

The Frank Lynn song book "Songs for Swingin' Housemothers" is currently for sale on eBay at $9.99 (substantially less than the $5k mentioned above).

Songs for Swingin' Housemothers

Nothing to do with me! Just a 'heads up' for anyone who might be interested.

Greenie

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ASSUMPTION SONG
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 May 18 - 09:54 PM

THE ASSUMPTION SONG
As sung by the Arrogant Worms in this YouTube video.

There was an old farmer who lived on a rock.
He sat in the meadow just shaking his—
Fist at some boys who were down by the crick,
Their feet in the water, their hands on their—
Marbles and playthings, and at half-past four,
There came a young lady; she looked like a—
Pretty young creature; she sat on the grass.
She pulled up her dress and she showed them her—
Ruffles and laces and white fluffy duck.
She said she was learning a new way to—
Bring up her children so they would not spit,
While the boys in the barnyard were shoveling—
Refuse and litter from yesterday's hunt,
While the girl in the meadow was rubbing her—
Eyes at the fellow down by the dock.
He looked like a man with a sizeable—
Home in the country with a big fence out front.
If he asked her politely, she'd show him her—
Little pet dog who was subject to fits,
And maybe she'd let him grab hold of her—
Small tender hands with a movement so quick,
And then she'd bend over and suck on his—
Candy so tasty made of butterscotch,
And then he spread whipped cream all over her—
Cookies that she had left out on her shelf.
If you think this is dirty, you can go **** yourself.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Violets
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 11:28 AM

Cool! I always though there was some in-joke about that song that I wasn't getting.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Violets
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 09:21 AM

The sheet music is at the Levy Collection:

SWEET VIOLETS
Words and music composed by J. K. Emmet.
Sung by J. K. Emmet in "Fritz Among the Gypsies."
Cincinnati: John Church & Co., 1882.

The words are nearly identical to what Joe has posted.

What's not clear from the broadside version is that the part beginning "Oh, Zillah, stay!" is a chorus, repeated after the second verse.

The part beginning "La, la, la..." is called a "Yodle" (sic).

Subject: ADD Version: Sweet Violets
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 10:44 PM

Could it be that our well-known "Sweet Violets" song is a parody? I found this at Bodleian Libary Ballads - Harding B20 (162)

SWEET VIOLETS

Sweet violets, sweeter than all the roses
Laden'd with fragrance, sparkling with the dew;
Sweet violets from mossy dell and rivulet,
Zillah, darling one, I plucked them my darling for you.

Oh, Zillah, stay! go not away,
Violets are blooming, love, for you alone;
Oh! sweet violets, sweeter than all the roses,
Zillah, darling one, I plucked them, and brought them for you.
La, la, la, la, &c.

Sweet violets, resting in beauty's bower
Crouched all unnoticed I did pluck that flower;
Sweet violets, still looking up to Heaven,
Zillah, darling one, I plucked them and brought them to you.


....a totally forgettable song, isn't it?

Subject: RE: Looking for different 'Sweet Violets' song.
From: GUEST,helpful 101
Date: 03 May 09 - 01:45 PM

hope that helps i love that song its so funny any it a song you can sing with your fammily and just have a bit of fun.
(im talking about th message i sent a couple of minutes ago by the way im not some random lunatic randomly typing stuff or any thing!!)
i hope i could help you to find out what the rest of sweet violets is. i hope this is the one you were lookin for
*from helpful 101* :) :P ;)

Subject: RE: Looking for different 'Sweet Violets' song.
From: GUEST,helpful 101
Date: 03 May 09 - 01:33 PM

yes i no the song my nan sings it to me all the time it goes like this:

There once was a farmer who took a young miss
In back of the barn where he gave her a . . . .
Lecture on horses and chickens and eggs,
And told her that she had such beautiful . . . .
Manners that suited a girl of her charms,
A girl that he wanted to take in his . . . .
Washing and ironing and then, if she did,
They could get married and raise lots of . . . .

Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses,
Covered all over from head to toe,
Covered all over with sweet violets.

The girl told the farmer that he'd better stop
And she called her father and he called a . . . .
Taxi and got there before very long,
'Cause someone was doing his little girl . . . .
Right for a change and so that's why he said,
"If you marry her, son, you're better off . . . .
Single 'cause it's always been my belief,
Marriage will bring a man nothing but . . .
Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses,
Covered all over from head to toe,
Covered all over with sweet violets.

The farmer decided he'd wed any way,
And started in planning for his wedding . . . .
Suit, which he purchased for only one buck,
But then he found out he was just out of . . . .
Money and so he got left in the lurch,
Standing and waiting in front of the . . . .
End of this story which just goes to show,
All a girl wants from a man is his . . .
Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses,
Covered all over from head to toe,
Covered all over with sweet violets.

Subject: RE: Looking for different 'Sweet Violets' song.
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 07:26 AM

Read Mark Cohen's comment of 26 Sep 04, should be two messages up from this one, then come back here.

Read it? OK: what do you get if a bee and a mosquito both attack you?

Sting along with itch!

Well, it was funny at the time, if you were 7 years old.

Subject: RE: Looking for different 'Sweet Violets' song.
From: GUEST,Tra c
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 03:25 AM

My mom died 2 yrs ago and thats what she sang 2 us we cant remember the whole song reading that brought tears 2 my eyes

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Violets
From: GUEST,My father's version of "3" Irishmen
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 02:13 AM

3 Irishmen, 3 Irishmen digging in a ditch, one called the other one a dirty son of a

Peter Murphy had a goat, a very fine goat was he, he lent it to his lady friend to keep her company

She fed it she fed it she fed it very well, till one day he jumped up and bit her on her

cocktail ginger ale five cents a glass, if you don't like the way this story goes, you can kiss my royal

ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies
if you get hit with a bucket of shit,
be sure to close your eyes.

Subject: RE: Looking for different 'Sweet Violets' song.
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 11:05 PM

That's amazing, John. I believe I also heard it on a Mitch Miller and the Gang album, which may have been titled simply "Sing Along with Mitch."

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Looking for different "Sweet Violets" song.
From: John M.
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 09:02 PM

Sweet Violets is most noted as a hit of September 1958 where it spent 8 weeks at the top of the hit parade...if I remember correctly. This 1958 hit is remembered as being sung by Doris Day but others sung the same song (see below). This 1958 song was actually a cleaned up version of a bawdy song called "There once was a farmer who sat on a rock...". The "Sweet Violets" chorus was used to bread up the otherwise incessant rhymes of the song.

If you are looking for variants on the song "Sweet Violets", I have most of the commercial recordings below including bawdy versions.

Sincerely,

John Mehlberg
~
My, mostly tradtional, bawdy songs, toasts and recitations website: www.immortalia.com

• Benny Bell
  • 78 Record
    • Shaving Cream [Sweet Violets with new chorus]  Size: 387KB  Time: 2:09
• Bob Dickson
  • T 6102 - Regal Zonophone
    • Sweet Violets [Not Bawdy]  Size: 461KB  Time: 2:33
• Cliff Steward And The Sanfrancisco Boys
  • Coral Records
    • 60542 - Sweet Violets [Not Bawdy]  Size: 379KB  Time: 2:06
• Dinah Shore
  • RCA Victor 20-4174 [Hit of Sept. 1951]
    • Sweet Violets [Not Bawdy]  Size: 390KB  Time: 2:10
• Fax Records
  • Bawdy Ballads
    • Sweet Violets  Size: 217KB  Time: 1:12
  • Wild Party Records. Vol. 6: Sin Along With Us
    • Sweet Violets  Size: 547KB  Time: 3:02
• Filthy Fred and Dirty Dick
  • Crud
    • Sweet Violets  Size: 413KB  Time: 2:17
• Jane Turzy
  • Decca 27668-A
    • Sweet Violets [Not Bawdy]  Size: 371KB  Time: 2:03
• Janette Davis
  • Columbia
    • 39488 - Sweet Violets [Not Bawdy]  Size: 391KB  Time: 2:10
• Larry Vincent on Pearl Records
  • Pearl Records compilation of 78s
    • 62A - Sweet Violets  Size: 447KB  Time: 2:29
• Oscar Brand
  • Bawdy Hootenanny
    • Sweet Violets  Size: 411KB  Time: 2:17
• Ron & The Rude Boys
  • Rude Rugby Songs: Vol. 4
    • Sweet Violets  Size: 506KB  Time: 2:48
• Sweet Violet Boys
  • Vocalion
    • 03256 - Sweet Violets No. 2  Size: 460KB  Time: 2:33
• The Naughty Nymphs!
  • Bube's Live!
    • Sweet Violets  Size: 277KB  Time: 1:32
• The Second Eleven
  • Outrageous Rugby Songs
    • Sweet Violets  Size: 547KB  Time: 3:02
• The Shower-Room Squad
  • Sinful Rugby Songs
    • Sweet Violets  Size: 433KB  Time: 2:24
• Unknown
  • Naughty Butt Nice
    • Sweet Violets  Size: 399KB  Time: 2:13
  • Stag Party In London Vol. 2 (Uncensored Rugby Songs)
    • Sweet Violets  Size: 516KB  Time: 2:52

   

Subject: RE: Looking for different "Sweet Violets" song.
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 12:34 AM

I thought it seemed like a parody to begin with.

Subject: RE: Looking for different "Sweet Violets" song.
From: GUEST,mary
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 12:19 AM

is there a "sweet violets" parody? i need to find it for a class i have. if you know about it, please tell me thankx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Violets
From: GUEST,jenn
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 06:21 AM

Another version of the two irishmen.

Two irishmen, two irishmen sitting in a ditch
one called the other a dirty son of a
peter murphy had a dog and a good dog was he
he gave him to a lady friend to keep her company
she led it, she fed it, and oh the little runt
he climbed upon her skirt one day and bit her in the
country boy, country boy sitting on a rock
along came a bumble bee and stung him in the
cocktail ginger ale five cents a glass
eat it and drink it and shove it up your
ask me no more questions, tell me no more lies
if you get hit with a bucket of shit,
be sure to close your eyes.

Subject: RE: Looking for different "Sweet Violets" song.
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 03:09 AM

The link to the midi for the first Sweet Violets DT entry is not working

Subject: RE: Looking for different "Sweet Violets" song.
From: GUEST,Norman
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 01:54 AM

I end my version with...

....the lady of the manor was powdering her
nose with the aid of her vanity box
when suddenly she found she'd a dose of the
itching and scatching and cursing with spleen
this song may be dull, but it's certainly clean.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Violets
From: GUEST,26th May '99
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 10:26 AM

Stick my head in a bucket of........ ?

I'm touched. That is SO beautiful, man.

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET VIOLETS (squaddie version)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 10:24 AM

This version comes from a collection of Squaddie Songs

SWEET VIOLETS

Now I took my best girl out a-walking.
Down Lovers' Lane we did go.
She complained she'd been bit by a nit.
She kept rubbing and scratching her—

CHORUS: Sweet violets, sweeter than all the roses,
Covered all over from head to foot,
Covered all over in sweet violets.

Now I took my best girl airplane riding.
She sat in the front of the pit.
And when the aeroplane landed,
She was covered all over in— CHORUS

My father he works in a sewer.
He works very hard for his bit.
And when he comes home in the evening,
His boots are all covered in— CHORUS

Now Mary she was a milkmaid,
And on her stool she did sit,
And when she was finished her milking,
The cow filled her pail full of— CHORUS

Now I once had a rich uncle
Who died in the course of a fit,
And just to fulfill his last wishes,
We buried him in six feet of— CHORUS

Now once there was an old boozer
Who always got himself lit,
And when he'd pass out completely,
His trousers always filled up with— CHORUS

I went out to the woodshed.
Some wood it had to be split.
I picked up the axe by the handle.
It was covered all over in— CHORUS

One day they had an inspection
To see if the rifles were fit,
But when they opened the breeches,
They found they were loaded with— CHORUS

Now this is the end of my story.
It's not very much, I admit.
But if anyone here feels offended,
Stick your head in a bucket of— CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Violets
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 10:22 AM

Gleaned from a message board called The Daily Bleed:

My wife kept a sack in the garden.
I was curious, I must admit.
On evening, I snuck out a handful
And found it was nothing but—

Sweet violets Sweeter than all the roses
Covered all over from head to toe,
Covered all over with snow.

There once was a young man of Sparta
Who could flatulate ballads and airs.
He could blow out a Mozart sonata
And accompany Musical Chairs.
One evening he attempted an opera.
It was hard, but he just wouldn't quit.
With his head held aloft, he suddenly coughed,
And collapsed in a mountain of—

Sweet violets Sweeter than all the roses
Covered all over from head to toe,
Covered all over with snow

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Violets
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 10:09 PM

Barnes & Noble has sound samples of some early recordings of SWEET VIOLETS. I transcribed these excerpts:

1. As sung by Putney Dandridge & His Orchestra, on "1935-1936," Classics CD 846, 1996.

Now my sister she died in a bathtub,
And she had some terrible fits.
When they buried her poor soul,
They laid her in six feet of—

Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses,
Covered all over from head to foot,
Covered all over with snow.

Now my brother works in a sewer.
He's digging and diving...

2. As sung by Sophisticated Jimmy La Rue on the various-artists albums "Piano Blues, Vol. 5: 1929-1936," Document CD 5337, 1995; and "Country Blues Collector Items, Vol. 2 (1931-1937)," Story of the Blues CD 3540, 1993.

My sister she had a baby,
And she asked me would I hold it.
And I run my hand 'neath the diaper,
Then I got it all covered with— [CHORUS same as above]

3. As sung by Gene Kardos & Joel Shaw on "Gene Kardos & Joel Shaw, Vol. 2," The Old Masters CD 127, 2001 (recorded c1932).

...had to be lit.
Oh, there was a terrible explosion
And my brother was covered with— [CHORUS same as above, but they pronounce the last word "shnow."]

Our baby was eating some peaches.
We thought that it swallowed a pit.
And when we examined its didy,
All we found...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Violets
From: Joe_F
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 07:54 PM

This girl had a sister -- I blush to confess,
She once met a man and began to un-
Nerve him by zipping her dress down the front,
But only to give him a look at her
Cunning gold necklace that she always wore,
But he grew afraid that she might be a
Horrible schemer and up to some trick,
But she said, "I see that you have a hard
Problem you might take in hand if you tried,"
So he stepped up to her and put it in
These words: He said that when he lived in France,
The ladies he liked let him into their
Plans and would tell him what they'd like to do,
So she said, "Stop talking, 'cause I want to
Scratch my mosquito bites right where they itch,"
And he said, "Well, I am a son of a
Bishop, but I'll be a layman instead,"
And he picked her up gently and laid her in
Sweet violets, etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Violets
From: GUEST,Mikey
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 02:48 PM

Here is the song as i do it

There once was a farmer, sat down on a rock,
Shaking and waving his fat hairy-
Hand at the neighbours, While over the moor
Came a young maiden, with the manner of a-
Decent young lady, although she walked like a duck,
She told me she'd discovered a new way to-
Educate her children, to read and to write,
While the farmers young son was out shovelling-
Dirt from the farmyard and into the byre (if thats how it's spelt!!!)
While all the time, the old farmer was pulling his-
Horse from the stable to go on a hunt,
The Missus stayed at home and powdered her

Now the farmers teen daughter, hung around by his side
You could tell by her manner, she was after a
Walk through the valley, to see old farmer Preggs
And show his fine young son, what's be-tween her-
-Self and his father, then with a small bit of luck
They'll away to the haybarn and have a good-
Laugh at the story's, and jokes that he knows
Till she'll fall off the haystack and tear all her

SWEET VIOLETS...................................

Now the farm hands a strong lad, just turned 26
He gets pleasure each day by sucking on-
Straws and on matches, thats how his time is spent
sure all the village boys swear he is-
A very wealthy young man, because of his job
and all the girls love him for the size of his
SALARY - ALL TOGETHER

Sweet violets.......................................

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Violets
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 04:36 AM

The version my grandfather taught me ( to my grandmother's disgust) was based on the local sewage works (Minworth) near where he took me fishing. The local pub (forget its real name) was known as The Muckman because of its clientele, always bringing a faint miasma with them.
^^
SWEET VIOLETS

They Say that your father's a muckman
He works in the middens all night
And when he comes home in the morning
He's covered all over in...

CHORUS:
Sweet Violets
Sweeter than the roses,
Covered all over from head to foot
In sweet Violets

When he gets home in the morning
From work on the middens all night
He has five or six mouthfuls of breakfast
and Five or six mouthfuls of .....

They say that he's kind to his children
To please him they try all their might
And when he's dead they will bury him
In five or six acres of ....


RtS

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET VIOLETS (parody by Homer & Jethro)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 12:02 AM

In my opinion, this parody suffers from being kept too clean.

Lyrics transcribed from the sound file at http://www.geocities.com/u2page6/
^^
SWEET VIOLETS
(As sung by Homer & Jethro)

CHORUS: Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses,
Covered all over from head to toe,
Covered all over with sweet violets.

There once was a guy who invited his pals
Out to a burlesque show to look at the--
Scenery, for it would be well worth the trip,
When a gal came on stage and she started to--
Cry 'cause a clown with a big putty nose
Walked out on the stage and said, "Peel off your--
Glasses," but she said, "I won't, you big ape.
If I do that, they'll all stare at my-- CHORUS

The girl got so nervous she started to cough
'Cause a guy way up front yelled out, "Hey! Take it--
Easy" and that's when she started to sing.
When she lifted her feathers you could see--
... ... (?) guitar it was tops.
She wiggled and squirmed till they called out the--
Broadway producer, a man of great wealth,
Who made her a big star in spite of her-- CHORUS

[Recorded by Homer & Jethro on "Songs My Mother Never Sang," 1961.]

Subject: LYR CORR: Looking for different "Sweet Violets"
From: Jacob B
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 11:46 AM

This may have been said in some other thread, but it seems like it should be said here. As I learned it, the last couplet of the second verse is:

Single 'cause its always been my belief
Marriage will bring a man nothing but --

Subject: RE: Looking for different "Sweet Violets" song.
From: WKG
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 08:38 AM

Disregard my previous message, please. I should have done a better search -- found exactly what I needed in a 1997 message from Shylo. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Looking for different "Sweet Violets" song.
From: WKG
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 11:23 AM

The last couplet of verse two of Sweet Violets 2 seems particularly unconvincing -- possibly a nonce-supplied substitute for a forgotten original, by echoing the end of verse three. But what do I know? I only ever knew the first verse, which we sang gleefully from about third grade on. Found there was more, and was glad to get it, but I remain skeptical that the second verse ends like that. I don't even get the intended rhyme: beef? grief? How dense am I?

Subject: RE: lyrics for Sweet Violets
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 10:25 PM

G'day,
Thanks to Joe the tune for the copyrighted version of "Sweet Violets" can be found here at the Mudcat MIDI site.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: PLAY ON MY SPANISH GUITAR
From: Snuffy
Date: 22 Apr 00 - 09:41 AM

There are three versions of Sweet Violets in the Digital Tradition database. The first one uses "My Bonny Lies over the Ocean", for the verses but #2 and #3 use the tune Joe posted. Version 3 is the one I remember from the early 60s, but had another verse:-
^^
While the lady of the manor was powdering her
Face and arranging her vanity box
And taking precautions to ward off the
What did you think I was going to say?
You dirty young bugger, that's all for today.

In a similar vein was:

She went for a ride in a Morgan,
She sat with the driver up front.
He played with her genital organ,
Which the more vulgar-minded call

Ring-ting-a-ling,
Ring-ting-a-ling,
Ring out the bells.
Play on my Spanish Guitar.

Some nights she dined at the Palais,
Others she dined at the Ritz,
Showing acres and acres of bosom,
Which the more vulgar-minded call

Ring-ting-a-ling,
Ring-ting-a-ling,
Ring out the bells.
Play on my Spanish Guitar.

I'm sure there must have been more verses to this one too, but it's over 35 years since I last heard it. Can anyone out there help?

X: 1
T:Play on my Spanish Guitar
M:3/4
L:1/4
Q:144
K:G
D|
DGG|GAG|Fd2-|d2d|dAB|cde|d3-|d2D|
DGG|GAG|Fd2-|d2d/d/|dAB|cBA||
GB/B/B|GB/B/B|A/c2c/|c3|dAB|c
Wassail! V

Subject: Tune Add: SWEET VIOLETS (Cy Coben & Charles Grean)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 04:40 AM

Here's the tune for Shylo's version. Note that the last line of the second verse is wrong in the database (I corrected it in Shylo's post above)
-Joe Offer-

---

Click to play

---

ABC format:

X:1
T:Sweet Violets
M:3/4
Q:1/4=120
K:F
C6|F2A2C2|F2A2C2|A2B2A2|G4C2|E2G2C2|E2G2C2|
G2A2G2|F2A2C2|F2A2C2|A2B2A2|G4C2|E2G2C2|E2G2C2|
G2A2G2|F2A2C2|F2A2C2|A2B2A2|G4C2|E2G2C2|E2G2C2|
G2A2G2|F2A2C2|F2A2C2|A2B2A2|G6|E2G2C2|E2G2C2|
G2A2G2|A6|F4G2|A6|-A6|A6|-A4A2|B4A2|A2G4|
-G6|G6|-G2G2G2|E2E2F2|G4G2|E6|c2d2c2|B2A2G2|
A6|A2E2G2|F6|-F7/4||

---

Here's what the Traditional Ballad Index says about this and similar songs:

Teasing Songs

DESCRIPTION: A teasing song hints of a bawdy or ribald rhyme, but avoids it at the last minute, as in this example: Suzanne was a lady with plenty of class / Who knocked the boys dead when she wiggled her... Eyes at the fellows as girls sometimes do...."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1615 (The Percy Folio Manuscript has one such teasing song, "A Friend of Mine.")
KEYWORDS: bawdy nonballad
FOUND IN: Australia Britain(England) US(MW,So,SW)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Cray, pp. 256-265, "Suzanne Was a Lady," "The Ship's in the Harbor," "There Once Was a Farmer," "Two Irishmen, Two Irishmen"; "Sweet Violets" (5 texts, 2 tunes)
Randolph-Legman II, pp. 649-652, "The Handsome Young Farmer" (7 texts)
DT, SWTVILT2
Roud #10404
RECORDINGS:
Anonymous singer, "Frankie and Johnny" (Zest record, matrix FJ, n.d.)
Ben Light & his Surf Club Boys, "The Girl from Atlantic City" (Hot Shots from Hollywood 0317/Hollywood Hotshots 317/Good Humor 2/Good Humor 10A/Good Humor unnumbered [the Good Humor records are anonymous]/Arrow 311/Kicks 5 /Kicks unnumbered [as "The Gal from Atlantic City"]/blank label, unnumbered [anonymoous; as "Atlantic City"], rec. 1936; on Doity1)
Anonymous singers, "Mamie Had A Baby" (on Unexp1)
Callahan Brothers, "Sweet Violets" (Perfect 6-07-51/Conqueror 8682, 1936)
Bob Dickson, "Sweet Violets" (Victor 23633, 1930)
Harry "Haywire Mac" McClintock, "Sweet Violets" (on McClintock02)
Norman Phelps & his Virginia Rounders, "Sweet Violets" (Decca 5191, 1936)
Joel Shaw, "Sweet Violets" (Crown 3271, 1932)
Dinah Shore, "Sweet Violets" (RCA Victor 20-4174, 1951)
Sweet Violet Boys [pseud. for Prairie Ramblers], "I Haven't Got a Pot to Cook In" (Vocalion 03402, 1937); "Sweet Violets" (Vocalion 03110, 1935); "Sweet Violets No. 2" (Vocalion 03256, 1936); "Sweet Violets No. 3" (Vocalion 03587, 1937)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Peter Murphy's Little Dog"
cf. "Down on the Farm"
cf. "At Brighton"
cf. "Shine Your Buttons With Brasso"
cf. "Butcher Town"
cf. "The Girl from Atlantic City"
Notes: Legman lumps all teasing songs together under the generic title of "The Handsome Young Farmer." - EC
I do the same thing because I can't tell them apart otherwise. (Hey, I got this job because nobody else would take it, not because I knew what I was doing.) - RBW
File: EM256

---

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2007 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET VIOLETS
From: Mark Clark
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 10:53 AM

I couldn't resist adding a version we used to sing as children.^^

Two Irishmen, Two Irishmen, sitting in a ditch,
One called the other one a dirty son of a...

Beaver, beaver, sitting on a log,
Along came a bumble bee and stung him on the...

Cocktail, ginger ale, five cents a glass,
If you don't like it then shove it up your...

Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies,
If you get hit with a bucket of...

Sweet violets, sweeter than all the roses,
Covered all over from head to toe,
Covered all over with sweet violets.

There may have been other verses and variations but that's all I can remember forty-five years after the fact.

- Mark

Subject: RE: lyrics for Sweet Violets
From: GUEST,EJ
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 09:43 AM

Annie; It was a big hit by Dinah Shore in the early 50's (if that's any help to you)

Subject: RE: lyrics for Sweet Violets
From: Gypsy
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 12:21 AM

Songs for Swingin' Housemothers is definitely worth it! Got a copy of the Beerbust songbook in the recent past. Was songs for singin' ever published? Have done numerous searches to no avail.

Subject: RE: lyrics for Sweet Violets
From: GUEST,annie-m
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 09:02 PM

Hi guys - thanks for the input. The song I am trying to locate is the one from Shylo, about the farmer and the young miss. If anyone knows who wrote that "Sweet Violets" please do tell - I just spent $30 ordering stuff on the web that I now fear is the wrong version!!

Thanks,

Anne

Subject: RE: lyrics for Sweet Violets
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 06:35 PM

Jeez, guys! I'll sell you my copy for only $4000!

Sandy

Subject: RE: lyrics for Sweet Violets
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 06:01 PM

Yes, Spaw, you need this songbook. It's a classic, from Oak Publications. Written by Frank Lynn, who also wrote The Beer Bust Songbook and Songs for Singin'.
I think This link will take you to a store where you can get a copy. The price tag is $5,378, but I swear that's a typographical error.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: lyrics for Sweet Violets
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 05:45 PM

SWINGING HOUSEMOTHERS????

Dare I ask???

Spaw

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET VIOLETS
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 05:34 PM

Hi, Annie - I found this version, and I'll e-mail you a copy of the sheet music. You can also Click here and find the MIDI and the three versions of the lyrics that we have in our world-famous database. I'm sure you'd have a heck of a time finding sheet music - although it is available in a Hal Leonard book called the New Novelty Songbook. Have fun!

SWEET VIOLETS
^^ (songwriter unknown)

I took for a walk in the moonlight
A girl that was crazy for me;
The bruise she left wasn't "crazy,"
When I put my hand on her...

CHORUS:
Sweet Violets, sweeter than all the roses
Covered all over from head to foot,
Covered all over with Sweet Violets.


She said if I brought her some flowers
I surely would make a big hit;
So I went to work in the garden,
And soon I was covered with (Chorus)

I wish that the ocean was whiskey,
Then I'd take a big ocean cruise,
To hang from the railing is risky,
But worth it to fill up on (Chorus)

Some men marry beautiful women,
Some men marry girls that are rich;
The girl that I married is neither,
She's only the world's biggest (Chorus)

My wife keeps a sack in the garden,
It worried me I must admit;
One morning I sneaked out a handful,
And found it was nothing but (Chorus)

One day I forgot my suspenders,
And took my wife out to a dance;
While dancing I heard someone holler,
Hey, mister, you're losing your (Chorus)

I went for a shave and a haircut,
The barber was drunk goodness knows;
He took out a big shiny razor,
And cut off the tip of my (Chorus)

My wife she died in the bathtub,
While having a terrible fit;
Strange, but her very last wish was
To be buried in six feet of (Chorus)

I know that these verses are scanty,
The rhyming's too much for my wit;
I start out like Shakespeare and Dante,
But somehow I end up with (Chorus)

And now that my story is ended,
And it's time to make my exit,
If anyone feels offended,
Stick your head in a barrel of (Chorus)

(From Songs for Swinging Housemothers, Frank Lynn, 1961)

JRO

Subject: RE: lyrics for Sweet Violets
From:
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 04:22 PM

Can anyone tell me who actually wrote this song? My father and I have been singing it since I was a very little girl, and I want to surprize him at my wedding next spring by having the band play it. So I'm looking for the name of the group that recorded it so I can try to find the sheet music.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Subject: RE: Looking for different “Sweet Violets” song.
From: Philip Hudson
Date: 08 Aug 98 - 11:09 AM

Jasan: The song in the DT (#2) is the one I have known all my life and sung on many occasions. As far as I know, these three verses are all there are. If you find more, please post them. I'm not impressed by (#1) in the DT. - Philip Hudson

Subject: RE: Looking for different “Sweet Violets” song.
From: Jon W.
Date: 07 Aug 98 - 05:23 PM

It's in the DT under Sweet Violets 2

Subject: RE: Looking for different “Sweet Violets” song.
From:
Date: 07 Aug 98 - 04:31 PM

Yes I'm looking for the same song. The girl called her father and he called the cop. Have you found it yet?

Subject: Tune request for Sweet Violets
From: Jon W.
Date: 01 Apr 98 - 06:02 PM

Can anyone post the tune (MIDI or ABC) for the lyrics Shylo submitted above?

Subject: RE: lyrics for Sweet Violets
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 16 Mar 98 - 11:31 PM

I recall a much lewder version from my youth, but only small fragments, such as:

There once was a farmer who lived by the school,
You could tell by his actions he played with his,
Marbles in springtime of innocence he'd sworn, ...

Any other contributions please.

Subject: RE: lyrics for Sweet Violets
From: Jasan
Date: 16 Mar 98 - 02:56 PM

Thanks That's what I'd been looking for.

Subject: RE: lyrics for Sweet Violets
From: Susan of DT
Date: 08 Mar 98 - 10:02 AM

For similar songs that do not quite say it...
See also:
Sweet Violets
Shine Your buttons With Brasso
A Clean Song
Bang Bang Lulu

Subject: RE: lyrics for Sweet Violets
From: rich r
Date: 08 Mar 98 - 01:18 AM

entering the words - sweet violets - into the forum search recovers a number of threads from 1996-97

rich r

Subject: RE: Looking for different “Sweet Violets” song.
From: Gene
Date: 05 Mar 98 - 06:48 PM

USE the FORUM SEARCH block and ENTER [sweet violets]...in the BODY space...then check under the SHYLO post....

Subject: Looking for DIFFERENT “Sweet Violets” song.
From: Jasan
Date: 05 Mar 98 - 06:17 PM

I had grown up knowing a song I had believed was called “Sweet Violets.” I was lead to believe that there are verses that I didn’t know, so I tried to look it up. However, looking it up now, all I can find are lyrics that try to rhyme words with “_ _ it”, though the main chorus is mostly the same as the song I knew. The song we used to sing on family trips went something like:

“There once was a farmer who took a young miss.
In back of the barnyard, he gave her a—
leccure on horses and chickens and eggs.
And told her that she had such beautiful—
manners that suited a girl of his charms.
A girl that he wanted to take in his—
washing and ironing and then if she did.
They could get married and raise lots of—

Sweet Violets, sweeter than all the roses.
Covered all over from head to toe.
Covered all over with sweet violets.”

If anyone has heard of this or any where else to look or how to narrow my search, let me know please. Thanks!