The “Sweet White Violets”(Latin Name: Viola odorata alba), which is expected to appear in late winter or early Spring, arrived exactly on time this year, exhibiting a massive crop of blossoms.
Sweet White Violets pictured here with emerging wild Primroses. Pic: G. Willoughby.
This small hardy herbaceous perennial is also commonly known as ‘Wood Violet‘; ‘English Violet‘; ‘Common Violet‘; ‘Florist’s Violet‘ and ‘Garden Violet’.
Sweet White Violets: The flowers which are either dark violet or white in colour, are scented, with the species most often found near the edges of forests or in shaded clearings; it is also a common “uninvited guest” found on shaded lawns or elsewhere with in Irish gardens.
Both the leaves and flowers are edible and in the late Victorian period, were used in the production of cosmetic fragrances and perfumes and in the production of medicine. Interesting to note: The scent somehow has suggested sex, so the violet served as a symbol of a favoured flower of Aphrodite, (latter ancient Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty); and her son, Priapus, (latter a minor fertility god in Greek mythology), who was also the protector of livestock, fruit plants and, yes male readers should note, male genitals. Both the former named Greek goddess and minor god were the deity of gardens.
A Bunch Of Violets Blue.
Lyrics: Attributed to composer, writer John McCormick. Vocals: Irish country, traditional and easy listening singer, guitarist and saxophone player, the late Tom McBride, (Big Tom 1936–2018).
A Bunch Of Violets Blue.
It was out in a moonlit garden, Not far from the ballroom grand, A soldier and his sweetheart, Went strolling hand in hand. Tomorrow the war would call him, And he vowed he would be true, And from her breast she gave to him, A bunch of violets blue. They were only a bunch of violets, A bunch of violets blue, Fresh and fair and dainty, All sparkle like the dew. Fresh and fair and dainty, As he pressed them to his heart, He smiled and said where’er he’d roam, From them he’d n’er would part. A soldier boy lay dying, Upon the cold, cold ground. A bunch of withered violets, Upon his breast was found. Turning to his comrades, In a feeble voice he sighed. Take them back and tell her that, I wore them till I died. They took the withered violets back, It been on her wedding day. An old man’s gold had won her, From her soldier far away. An old man’s gold had won her, From her soldier young and tall, And this is what he said to her, One evening at the ball. They were only a bunch of violets, A bunch of violets blue, Fresh and fair and dainty, All sparkle like the dew. Fresh and fair and dainty, As he pressed them to his heart, He smiled and said where’er he’d roam, From them he’d n’er would part.
Lyrics and Vocals: American singer, songwriter, actor and country musician Vince Gill (Vincent Gill).
When I Call Your Name.
I rushed home from work like I always do. I spent my whole day just thinking of you. When I walked through the front door, my whole life was changed, ‘Cause nobody answered when I called your name. A note on the table that told me goodbye. It said you’d grown weary of living a lie. Oh, your love has ended, but mine still remains, But nobody answers when I call your name. Oh, the lonely sound of my voice calling, Is driving me insane, And just like rain, the tears keep falling, But nobody answers when I call your name. Oh, the lonely sound of my voice calling, Is driving me insane, And just like rain, the tears keep falling, But nobody answers when I call your name. Oh, nobody answers when I call your name.
It was at the last election that me uncle Pat got in. He was always fond of politics and the faith I knew he’d win. He made such pretty promises to the people one and all, That’s how he got elected as a member of the Dail.
Oh, me uncle is a T.D. me boys, me uncle is a T.D., And that’s the very reason why nothing bothers me. Me brother was made a foreman, though he never built a wall, Ah, but then you’ll see me uncle, he’s a member of the Dail.
Now, he’s not good at learnin’, sure he never went to school, But that’s no disadvantage in this country as a rule. He was in the county council, but you know that means damn all, But hats off to me uncle, he’s a member of the Dail.
Oh, me uncle is a T.D. me boys, me uncle is a T.D., And that’s the very reason why nothing bothers me. He got a pension for me Da, though he’s not blind at all, Yea, but then you see me uncle, he’s a member of the Dail.
Now he’s not fond of arguing, sure he’s as quiet as a mouse. He never says a wrong word up there in Leinster House. He never connects with either side Fine Gael or Fianna Fail, So long as he draws a salary as a member of the Dail.
Oh, me uncle is a T.D. me boys, me uncle is a T.D. And his sister’s going to marry a ministers secretary, She met him up in Dublin in Barry’s at a ball, That’s how they got acquainted through me uncle in the Dail.
Now, we’re the finest family that ever yet was seen, We make a tidy packet from the makin’ of poitin. It goes across the border and up to Donegal, And they drink it in the lobbies, with my uncle in the Dail.
Oh, me uncle is a T.D. me boys, me uncle is a T.D., And me mother got her pension at the age of forty-three. We draw family allowance though we’ve no kids at all, Yea, but then you see me uncle, he’s a member of the Dail.
Oh, me uncle is a T.D. me boys, me uncle is a T.D., And that’s the very reason why nothing bothers me. We draw family allowance though we’ve no kids at all, But then you see me uncle, he’s a member of the Dail. But then you see me uncle, he’s a member of the Dail.
Lyrics: American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer and director Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II and American composer Richard Charles Rodgers, (Rodgers and Hammerstein). Vocals: English beat group Gerry and the Pacemakers(Group formed in 1956)
You’ll Never Walk Alone.
When you walk through a storm, Hold your head up high, And don’t be afraid of the dark. At the end of a storm, There’s a golden sky, And the sweet silver song of a lark. Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain, For your dreams be tossed and blown. Walk on, walk on, With hope in your heart, And you’ll never walk alone. You’ll never walk alone. Walk on, walk on, With hope in your heart, And you’ll never walk alone. You’ll never walk alone.
Lyrics and Vocals: American singer/songwriter Roland Kent LaVoie[Better known by his stage name Lobo–(Latter ‘Lobo’ Spanish word for wolf)].
I’d Love You to Want Me.
When I saw you standing there, About fell off my chair, And when you moved your mouth to speak, I felt the blood go to my feet. Now it took time for me to know, What you tried so not to show, Something in my soul just cried, I see the want in your blue eyes. Baby, I’d love you to want me, The way that I want you, The way that it should be. (Mmm) – Baby, you’d love me to want you, The way that I want to, If you’d only let it be. You told yourself years ago, You’d never let your feelings show, The obligation that you made, For the title that they gave. Baby, I’d love you to want me, The way that I want you, The way that it should be. Baby, you’d love me to want you, The way that I want to, If you’d only let it be. Now, it took time for me to know, What you tried so not to show, Something in my soul just cried, I see the want in your blue eyes. Baby, I’d love you to want me, The way that I want you, The way that it should be. (Mmm) – Baby, you’d love me to want you, The way that I want to, If you’d only let it be. Oh baby, I’d love you to want me, The way that I want you, The way that it should be. (Mmm) – Baby, you’d love me to want you, The way that I want to, If you’d only let it be
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