Green Grow the Rushes, O facts for kids

Green Grow the Rushes, O is a very old and famous English folk song. It is also known by other names like "The Dilly Song" or "The Twelve Prophets." Sometimes, people sing it as a Christmas carol.

This song is special because it's a cumulative song. This means each new verse builds on the one before it. It adds a new line to the lines you've already sung. Imagine building a tower, brick by brick!

The song often uses a "call and response" style. One person sings a line, and then a group sings it back or answers. It's like a musical conversation!

The song is not the same as "Green Grow the Rashes" by Robert Burns. It's also different from a song by the Irish band Altan with a similar name.

Here's how the first verse usually starts:

I'll sing you one, O

Green grow the rushes, O

What is your one, O?

One is one and all alone

And evermore shall be so.

Many different versions of this song exist. Music experts like Sabine Baring-Gould and Cecil Sharp collected them long ago. The words can be a bit mysterious today. But most people agree they talk about things from the Bible and space.

What the Song Says

The longest version of the song has twelve verses. Here is the final verse, which includes all the lines from the previous ones:

I'll sing you twelve, O

Green grow the rushes, O

What are your twelve, O?

Twelve for the twelve Apostles

Eleven for the eleven who went to heaven,

Ten for the ten commandments,

Nine for the nine bright shiners,

Eight for the April Rainers.

Seven for the seven stars in the sky,

Six for the six proud walkers,

Five for the symbols at your door,

Four for the Gospel makers,

Three, three, the rivals,

Two, two, the lily-white boys,

Clothed all in green, O

One is one and all alone

And evermore shall be so.

Where the Song Comes From

The exact meaning of some parts of the song is a bit unclear. It mixes ideas from Christian teachings, ways to remember things about stars, and possibly even older beliefs.

Cecil Sharp, a famous music expert, said in 1916 that the words are "so corrupt." This means they have changed a lot over time. It's hard to know their original meaning.

No one knows exactly how old the song is. But a similar counting song was sung by English children in the 1800s. It didn't have the "Green grow the rushes" part. By 1868, different versions were sung as Christmas carols by children on the streets.

Cecil Sharp found the song was very common in Somerset and other parts of western England. Even though his version didn't have the "Green grow the rushes" chorus, he knew it was sung at Eton College. It was also printed in a songbook called English County Songs.

Different Versions of the Song

There are many different ways people sing "Green Grow the Rushes, O." Here are a few examples:

The Twelve Apostles

In the Ozarks region of America, people sing a version called The Twelve Apostles. Its final verse goes like this:

Come an' I will sing!

What will you sing?

I will sing of twelve.

What of the twelve?

Twelve of the twelve apostles,

Leven of the saints that has gone to Heaven,

Ten of the ten commandments,

Nine of the sunshines bright an' fair,

Eight of the eight archangels,

Seven of the seven stars in the sky,

Six of the cheerful waiters,

Five of the ferrymen in the boat,

Four of the gospel preachers,

Three of them were strangers,

Two of the little white babes

Dressed in the mournin' green.

The Dilly Song

Another similar version is called "The Dilly Song" or "The Dilly Carol." It appears in a book from Winston Graham's Poldark series. A Cornish choir sings it on Christmas Eve in the story.

The English folk singer Kate Rusby also recorded "The Dilly Carol" for her Christmas album in 2015. Here are some of its lines:

Come and I will sing you

What will you sing O?

I will sing One O.

What is your One O?

Twelve are the Twelve Apostles

Leven are the 'leven will go to Heaven

Ten are the Ten Commandments

Nine is the moonshine bright and clear

Eight are the Eight Archangels

Seven are the Seven Stars in the sky

Six the Cheerful Waiter

Five is the Ferryman in the boat

Four are the Gospel Praychers

Three of them are strangers

Two of them are Lilly-white babes

Clothed all in green-o

One of them is all alone and ever shall remain so.

Other Names for the Song

This song has many different titles, including:

• I'll Sing You One Oh
• The Carol of the Twelve Numbers
• The Twelve Apostles
• The Dilly Song
• The Dilly Carol
• The Counting Song
• Come and I Will Sing You
• Stay and I’ll Sing

Songs and Stories Inspired by It

"Green Grow the Rushes, O" has inspired many other songs, books, and TV shows:

• The spiritual song "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" has a similar counting style.
• A Hebrew song called "Echad Mi Yodea" ("Who Knows One?") is sung during the Jewish Passover seder. It also counts up using religious ideas.
• The comedy character Rambling Syd Rumpo sang a funny version called "Green Grow My Nadgers, O."
• In the opera The Yeomen of the Guard by Gilbert & Sullivan, the song "I Have a Song to Sing, O" was inspired by this folk song.
• In the children's book The Children of Green Knowe, a character named Tolly sings the first two verses.
• The TV show The Avengers featured a character singing the song to protect his mind.
• The comedy duo The Two Ronnies performed a funny version with changed lyrics.
• The children's TV show Sesame Street had an animated turtle sing a version with nature references.
• Jilly Cooper's novel Rivals mentions the song many times.
• The Canadian folk rock band Great Big Sea recorded a version called "Come and I Will Sing You."
• Terry Pratchett's novel Hogfather features a fictional Christmas carol inspired by it.
• The American band R.E.M. released a song named "Green Grow the Rushes" in 1985.
• Australian writer Garth Nix's Old Kingdom book series uses a version of the song and the idea of "Nine Bright Shiners."

Music Versions and Recordings

• Benjamin Britten created a musical setting of the song (as The Twelve Apostles) in 1962.
• There is a recording by Philip Langridge and the Wenhaston Boys Choir.
• King Solomon's Singers, a group that performs old music, also recorded a version.