“Green Grow the Leaves”

Description

"O green grow the leaves on the (hawthorn) tree, Some grow high and some grow low; With this wrangling and this jangling We never shall agree, And the tenor of our song goes merrily."

Supplemental text

Green Grow the Leaves
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

Marden Forfeit Song

From Ella Mary Leather, Folk-Lore of Herefordshire, p. 206.
From the singing of the "Bell-Ringers" at Marden; date not
given.

O green grow the leaves on the ackorn tree, (sic.)
Some grow high and some grow low;
With this wrangling and this jangling
We never shall agree,
And the tenor of our song goes merrily.
Twenty, noneteen, eigtheen, seventeen, sixteen, fifteen, fourteen,
     thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five,
     four, three, two, one,
And the tenor of our song goes merrily.

Notes

This seems to be known mostly as a singing game, but Leather reports that her version, which has a counting-down chorus, was sung as a forfeit -- that is, if you missed one of the numbers, you had to drink a penalty. Hence her title. - RBW

References

1. Leather, p. 206, "Marden Forfeit Song" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. ST Leath206 (Full)
3. Roud #2121
4. BI, Leath206