Rubin. Green grow the rushes

From Some Aspects of Comparative Jewish Folksong by Ruth Rubin.

This is Roud 133.

GREEN GROW THE RUSHES


I sing of twelve oh,
Green grow the rushes, oh.
What is your twelve oh?
Twelve for the twelve Apostles,
Eleven for the eleven who went to Heaven,
Ten for the Ten Commandments,
Nine for the nine bright shiners,
Eight for the April rainers,
Seven for the seven stars in the sky,
Six for the six proud walkers,
Five for the symbols at your door,
Four for the Gospel-makers,
Three, three the rivals,
Two, two the lily-white boys
clothed all in green-oh.
One is one and all alone
and ever more shall be so.


NOTES

[or. Nine for the choirs of Angels
[or, Eight for the eight bold rangers

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