Oh I'll twine 'mid the ringlets of my raven black hair
The lilies so pale and the roses so fair.
The myrtle so bright with an emerald hue
and the pale aronatus with eyes of bright blue.
I'll sing and I'll dance, my laugh shall be gay
I'll cease this wild weeping, drive sorrow away.
Though my heart now is breaking, he never shall know
That his name made me tremble
and my pale cheeks to glow.
I'll think of him never, I'll be wildly gay
I'll charm every heart and the crowd I will sway.
I'll live yet to see him regret the dark hour
When he won, then neglected the frail wildwood flower.He told me he loved me and promised to love
Through ill and misfortune all others above.
Another has won him, ah misery to tell
He left me in silence, no word of farewell.He taught me to love him, he called me his flower
That blossomed for him all the brighter each hour.
But I woke from my dreaming, my idol was clay
My visions of love have all faded away.
The above lyrics appeared under the title "I'll Twine Mid the Ringlets" (words by Maude Irving, music by J.B. Webster), in an 1888 publication called Woodland Warblings."Wildwood Flower" carries special memories for me. I grew up with Bluegrass music - my Daddy "made" music. When I was about 4 years old, Daddy's friends and fellow musicians would often gather at our house to practice their music. I wanted to watch and listen, but was too shy to mingle - I would hide behind an opened door and peep through the crack. Of course, I was teased - probably why I hid in the first place. They were a fun-loving bunch - the best.
The Christmas before my Daddy died, he bought me a guitar (I never learned to play it - didn't inherit that talent). I asked Daddy to pick "Wildwood Flower" for me on my new guitar. We were in a little restaurant that Daddy owned and operated at that time. He knelt down and rested the guitar on his knee. He began to pick the old familiar tune - made it look so easy. I will never forget that day - the memory still lingers..
"Wildwood Flower" is a classic guitar instrumental. I did not read the words to the song until just a few years ago. I fell in love with them.
I have requested "Wildwood Flower" to be played at my funeral.
Norma