Lyr ADD: Bring Flowers (Malvina Reynolds)

Subject: Lyr Req: bring flowers
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Oct 21 - 04:15 PM

I am looking for the Malvina Reynolds song bring flowers that begins with the line "There's lots to be said for the guy who's not dead"

If you can also locate an accessible recording g that would be helpful.

Glen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: bring flowers
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Oct 21 - 07:28 PM

Hi, Glen -

I found the lyrics at http://malvinareynolds.com/

  Malvina Reynolds: Song Lyrics and Poems  

Bring Flowers

Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1958 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1986. In the Table of Contents to her songbook Song in My Pocket Malvina dedicates this song: "...to the modest heroes of the people's struggles for a good, decent and peaceful life."

There's lots to be said
For the guy who's not dead,
For the guy who's still breathing the air.
Don't wait for his wake,
But let's bake him a cake
While he's still here to eat up his share.

Chorus:
Bring flowers, bring flowers,
Not lilies, but roses in showers,
Bring lilacs and daisies and daffodils sweet
For the guy who is still on his feet.

We'll all shed a tear,
And moan in our beer
For our buddy when's he's been laid out.
Let's give him a cheer
While he is still here
To hear what we're cheering about.

(Chorus)

The way people die
In the wink of an eye
From every conceivable cause,
When a fellow is found
Who is still above ground,
He deserves our sincerest applause.

(Chorus)

Then here's to the lad,
Be he good, be he bad,
Who batters our ears with his jive;
We'll drink him a cup
When his number is up,
But we like him much better alive.

(Chorus)

Malvina Reynolds songbook(s) in which the music to this song appears:
---- Song in My Pocket: Songs
---- Little Boxes and Other Handmade Songs

Other place(s) where the music to this song appears:
---- Sing Out!, Volume 31(4) (1985), p. 8

Malvina Reynolds recording(s) on which this song is performed:
---- [none]

---

The only performance of the song I could find is this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9k8AyriX1k

It's a great song. I think Faith Petric used to sing this one.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Bring Flowers (Malvina Reynolds)
From: GUEST,Glen
Date: 15 Oct 21 - 08:06 PM

I heard it first sung by Marion Wade at her solo debut at Focus II in the 70's.

Thanks. I no longer have my recording of that show.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Bring Flowers (Malvina Reynolds)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Oct 21 - 03:09 AM

I think I remember Marion singing it. I really enjoyed her. We were buddies for years. May she rest in peace.