Sweet Violets

About Sweet Violets

"Sweet Violets" is a classic example of a "censored rhyme", where the expected rhyme of each couplet is replaced with an unexpected word which segues into the next couplet or chorus. For example, the first couplets go: There once was a farmer who took a young miss In back of the barn where he gave her a... Lecture on horses and chickens and eggs And told her that she had such beautiful... Manners that suited a girl [etc.] The chorus is taken nearly verbatim from the song "Sweet Violets" by Joseph Emmet, from his 1882 play Fritz Among the Gypsies: Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses Covered all over from head to toe Covered all over with sweet violets. The song was recorded by Dinah Shore with Henri René's Orchestra & Chorus in Hollywood on May 20, 1951. The song was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4174A (78 rpm record), 47-4174A (single) (in USA), by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10115 in the UK, and EA 3997 in Australia, also on the His Master's Voice label. The Dinah Shore version was arranged by Cy Coben and Charles Grean. It reached # 3 on the Billboard magazine charts. It has also been recorded by Mitch Miller and the Gang, Jane Turzy, and Judy Lynn. The song (in all its versions, combined) reached #1 on the Cash Box magazine best-seller chart. more »

Year:

2011

2:53

98 Views

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#1

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There once was a farmer who took a young miss
In back of the barn where he gave her a 
Lecture on horses and chickens and eggs,
And told her that she has such beautiful
Manners that suited a girl of her charms,
A girl that he'd like for to take in his
Washing and ironing, and then if she did,
They could get married and raise lots of

[Chorus]
Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses,
Covered all over from head to toe,
Covered all over with sweet violets.

The girl told the farmer that he'd better stop, 
And she told her father and called a 
Taxi which got there before very long,
For someone was doing his little girl
Right for a change, and so here's what he said:
"If you marry her, son, you're better off
Single 'cause it's always been my belief,
Marriage can bring a man nothing but

[Chorus]

The farmer decided he'd wed anyway,
And started in planning for his wedding
Suit which he'd purchased for only one buck,
But then he found out he was just out of
Money and so he got left in the lurch,
Standing and waiting in front of the
End of this story, which just goes to show,
All a girl wants from a man is his

[Chorus]

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Dinah Shore

Dinah Shore (born Frances Rose Shore; February 29, 1916 – February 24, 1994) was an American singer, actress, and television personality. She reached the height of her popularity as a recording artist during the Big Band era of the 1940s and 1950s, but achieved even greater success a decade later, in television, mainly as hostess of a series of variety programs for Chevrolet. more »

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