Grow
W. C. Lindsay Lyrics


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Green grow the rashes o
Green grow the rashes o
The sweetest hours that e'r I spend
Are spent among the lasses o
There's nought but care on every hand
In every hour that passes o
What signifies the life o' man
And 't were no' for the lasses o
Green grow the rashes o
Green grow the rashes o
The sweetest hours that e'r I spend
Are spent among the lasses o
The worldly race may riches chase
And riches still may fly them o
And though at last they catch them fast
Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them o
Gi' me a canny hour at een
My arms about my dearie o
And worldly cares and worldly men
May aw gi' tapsalteerie o
For you so douce ye sneer at this
Ye're not but senseless asses o
The wisest man the world saw
He dearly loved the lasses o
Auld nature swears the lovely dears
Her noblest work she classes o
Her prentice hand she tried on man
And then she made the lassies o
Green grow the rashes o
Green grow the rashes o




The sweetest hours that e'r I spend
Are spent among the lasses o

Overall Meaning

The song "Green Grow the Rashes O" by W. C. Lindsay is a Scottish folk song celebrating the joys of spending time with women ("lasses"). The singer reflects on the various cares and troubles of life, but finds solace in the company of women. The opening lines of the song, "Green grow the rashes o, green grow the rashes o," are a reference to the Scottish custom of making rashes, or rushes, into decorative garlands. The singer suggests that the sweetest moments of his life are spent among the lasses, and that without them, life would be rather meaningless.


The song also includes a critique of materialism, with the singer noting that the pursuit of wealth can consume a person's life without ever bringing true happiness. Instead, the singer sings a paean to the simple pleasures of life: spending time with loved ones and enjoying the company of women. The final stanza of the song celebrates women as "nature's noblest work," arguing that they are even more worthy of admiration than men.


Overall, "Green Grow the Rashes O" is a song about finding happiness and fulfillment in life through connections with other people, particularly women. It suggests that true joy comes from simple pleasures and human relationships, rather than from wealth or material possessions.


Line by Line Meaning

Green grow the rashes o
The fields are flourishing green


The sweetest hours that e'r I spend Are spent among the lasses o
The happiest moments of my life are spent with women


There's nought but care on every hand In every hour that passes o
There are many problems to face in life


What signifies the life o' man And 't were no' for the lasses o
What is life without women?


The worldly race may riches chase And riches still may fly them o And though at last they catch them fast Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them o
Many people try to accumulate wealth, but even when they get it, it doesn't bring them happiness


Gi' me a canny hour at een My arms about my dearie o And worldly cares and worldly men May aw gi' tapsalteerie o
All I need is to hold my loved one and forget about the world's troubles


For you so douce ye sneer at this Ye're not but senseless asses o
Those who criticize my love for women are fools


The wisest man the world saw He dearly loved the lasses o
Even the wisest man loved women


Auld nature swears the lovely dears Her noblest work she classes o Her prentice hand she tried on man And then she made the lassies o
Nature considers women to be her greatest creation, as she perfected her craft by making them after creating men




Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Traditional Music

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