Anyone heard of this ditty?

[mandodebbie]

Years ago when I was learning guitar, my instructor taught me a song that went " I will twine and will mingle my raven black hair 'Mongst the roses so red and and the lillies so fair, And the myrtle so green of an emerald hue, And the pale amantina, the islips so blue." (Or something like that.) What is the name of this little ditty? It's about a very depressed girl wanting to just lay down and die because of her man breaking up their engagment. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[DrP]

That's Wildwood Flower, which is usually attributed to the Carter Family.

[Michael H Geimer]

I seem to drift into Wildwood Flower whenever I'm behind some strings ... and am lost in a daydream. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[peterbc]

I believe it predates the Carter family. On the Bear Family boxed set I remember one of the interviews says something about how her grandmother taught it her and that it's an old old tune.

[mandodebbie]

Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[mandolooter]

I love that song and it's real easy to play too, always a plus in my book! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[jimini_pickit]

I had heard 'Wildwood Flower' alot in bluegrass jams and enjoyed playing it (pretty easy for a beginner!), but I enjoyed it much more once I finally heard a recording of Maybelle Carter (?) singing it....very sweet!

I believe it was on Time/Life's Treasury of Bluegrass double-CD set (Volume 1, but if you buy now, you also get Volume 2 at a reduced price--) some great roots to fairly current bluegrass listening! Everyone should own it IMO.

Happy Pickin'
Jim

[Bob Asher]

THE CARTER FAMILY GETS CREDIT FOR THE ARRANGEMENT AS WE KNOW IT.
BUT, THE SITUATION AND WORDS WERE CARVED OUT OF AN ANCIENT GREEK
LOVE POEM. I HAVE IT SOMEWHERE HERE IN AN OLD COLLEGE WORLD LITERATURE
TEXTBOOK!