Green Grow the Lilacs
Harry Belafonte Lyrics


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Lyrics:
Green grow the lilacs all sparkling with dew
Green grow the lilacs when winter is thru
Each time I see lilacs my heart breaks in two
Cause springtime is here and it's here without you
As sure as the bluebirds that fly up above
Springtime is sad without someone to love
Yes springtime is sad and it troubles my mind
In a world full of women, not one girl is mine
Green grow the lilacs all sparkling with dew
Green grow the lilacs when winter is thru
Each time I see lilacs my heart breaks in two
Cause springtime is here and it's here without you
They say that it's best to forget what we had
Then it is to remember and always be said
But still I keep wondering each now and then
If ever I'll see you and kiss you again
Green grow the lilacs all sparkling with dew
Green grow the lilacs when winter is thru




Each time I see lilacs my heart breaks in two
Cause springtime is here and it's here without you

Overall Meaning

In Harry Belafonte's song "Green Grow the Lilacs," the singer is lamenting the arrival of spring without his beloved. The title "Green Grow the Lilacs" is a reference to the flowers that bloom in the spring, representing the rebirth and new life that comes with the season. The flowers are described as "sparkling with dew," alluding to the idea that they are new and fresh.


The singer expresses his sadness and heartbreak at the arrival of spring, a time that is traditionally associated with love and renewal. The arrival of bluebirds, which are often symbols of happiness and good luck in literature, only serve to make spring even sadder without someone to love. As the singer looks around at a world full of women, he laments that not one of them is his girl.


In the second verse, the singer acknowledges the common advice to forget the past and move on, but he finds himself unable to let go of his memories. He wonders if he will ever see his beloved again and have the chance to kiss her. Overall, the song captures the theme of a person longing for the return of their loved one during the season of renewal, making it a common and relatable theme in music and literature.


Line by Line Meaning

Green grow the lilacs all sparkling with dew
The lilacs are beautifully adorned with dew drops.


Green grow the lilacs when winter is thru
The lilacs continue to sprout when winter is over.


Each time I see lilacs my heart breaks in two
The sight of lilacs reminds me of my lost love, causing me immense pain and sadness.


Cause springtime is here and it's here without you
The coming of spring only increases my longing for you who is not here.


As sure as the bluebirds that fly up above
Just like the bluebirds, springtime is incomplete without someone to love.


Springtime is sad without someone to love
Springtime can feel lonely and melancholy without a romantic partner.


Yes springtime is sad and it troubles my mind
My mind is weighed down by the sadness of springtime without the presence of my beloved.


In a world full of women, not one girl is mine
Despite the abundance of women in this world, I cannot find my true love among them.


They say that it's best to forget what we had
Some claim forgetting past memories is better than holding on to them.


Then it is to remember and always be said
However, constantly remembering those memories can be comforting.


But still I keep wondering each now and then
Occasionally, I still wonder and hope to be reunited with my lost love.


If ever I'll see you and kiss you again
I am unsure if I will ever have the chance to see you again and feel your warm embrace.


Green grow the lilacs all sparkling with dew
The lilacs continue to thrive and bloom, but the sight still brings me pain.


Green grow the lilacs when winter is thru
Despite the passing of winter and the arrival of spring, my longing for my lost love still lingers.


Each time I see lilacs my heart breaks in two
The sight of lilacs is a vivid reminder of the love that was lost and the pain that remains.


Cause springtime is here and it's here without you
Springtime brings beauty, but without your presence, it only magnifies the sadness in my heart.




Contributed by Aubrey C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Frederique Roberge


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