“Sweet Blooming Lavender”
Description
Street cry: "Won't you buy my sweet blooming lavender? There are sixteen blue branches a penny, all in full bloom." The singer tells how the plant is fresh, and how it will benefit the wearer
Notes
Kennedy notes that his informant, Florrie Penfold, knew several street cries but preferred this because it is "more of a song." Which indeed it is, and so is included.
Kennedy lists a number of collected versions of this piece. I doubt that all are actually the same song, but they are doubtless all lavender street calls. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Lavender Girl" (theme)
Recordings
- Bill Ellson, "Will You Buy My Sweet Blooming Lavender?" (on Voice11)
References
- Kennedy 356, "Sweet Blooming Lavender" (1 text, 1 tune)
- ADDITIONAL: Walter de la Mare, _Come Hither_, revised edition, 1928; notes to #153, ("Or the Streete cryes all about") (1 fragment of this, plus an assortment of other street cries)
- Roud #854
- BI, K356