Green Grow The Rushes, O
Lyrics
(Verse 1)I'll sing you one-oGreen grow the rushes-oWhat is your one-o?One is one and all aloneAnd ever more shall be so.
(Verse 2)I'll sing you two-oGreen grow the rushes-oWhat is your two-o?Two two the lily-white boysClothed all in green-o,One is one and all aloneAnd ever more shall be so.
(Verse 3)I'll sing you three-oGreen grow the rushes-oWhat is your three-o?Three-e-e three-e-e The ri-i-i-ivals,Two two the lily-white boysClothed all in green-o,One is one and all aloneAnd ever more shall be so.
The next verses repeat, each time adding one more line in a cumulative fashion:I'll sing you four-o ...... four for the Gospel makers, ...... five for the symbols at your door, ...... six for the six proud walkers, ...... seven for the seven stars in the sky, ...... eight for the April rainers, ...... nine for the nine bright shiners, ...... ten for the Ten Commandments, ...... eleven for the eleven that went to heaven, ...... twelve for the twelve Apostles, ...
History and Meaning
"Green Grow the Rushes, O" counts from one to twelve, and almost every number hides a piece of religious code: four Gospel-makers, ten Commandments, twelve Apostles. It works as a cumulative memory test and, underneath, as a folk catechism. The same counting structure turns up in the Passover song "Echad Mi Yodea."
What is the origin of the song Green Grow the Rushes, O?
The song has roots in ancient Hebrew and European religious chants, sharing its structure with the traditional Passover song "Echad Mi Yodea" (Who Knows One). Over time, it was adapted into English, becoming a popular counting song across the British Isles. The recurring line "Green grow the rushes, O" references the common marsh plants that were harvested for weaving and floor covering in medieval times.
What is the meaning behind the lyrics of Green Grow the Rushes, O?
The song uses a cumulative structure: each verse introduces a new numbered item, progressing from one up to twelve, and then recounts all the preceding numbered items in reverse order back down to one. This structure serves as both a mnemonic challenge and a key feature of its performance, helping people memorize complex religious concepts.
What do the numbers in Green Grow the Rushes, O represent?
The twelve numbered phrases are widely interpreted as Christian religious symbols, serving as a folk catechism or memory aid. The traditional interpretations of the numbers are:
- One: God ("One is one and all alone").
- Two: The lily-white boys (sometimes linked to Jesus and John the Baptist, or the Old and New Testaments).
- Three: The rivals (often linked to the Holy Trinity or the three Wise Men).
- Four: The Gospel makers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
- Five: The symbols at your door (referencing the Pentagram protective symbol, the Five Wounds of Christ, or the five senses).
- Six: The six proud walkers (originally "proud waters," referring to the six water pots at the Wedding at Cana).
- Seven: The seven stars in the sky (the Pleiades star cluster or the seven classical planets).
- Eight: The April rainers (referring to the eight people saved on Noah's Ark, or the eight Beatitudes).
- Nine: The nine bright shiners (the nine orders of Angels).
- Ten: The Ten Commandments.
- Eleven: The Apostles who went to heaven (excluding Judas).
- Twelve: The Twelve Apostles.
Music Video
Lyrics from nurseryrhymes.info