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Fatal Flower Garden

from Misfits Migrants and Murders by Jack Warshaw

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about

American descendant of a song from 13th century Lincoln, about the alleged ritual murder of a boy by Jews, which led to a massacre of Lincoln's Jews and worse through history. This version, recorded by Nelstone's Hawaiiains in the 1920s, (Harry Smith, Anthology of American Folk Music) transfers the blame to a "Gypsy Lady."

lyrics

It rained, it poured, it rained so hard,
It rained so hard all day,
That all the boys in our school
Came out to toss and play.

They tossed a ball again so high,
Then again, so low;
They tossed it into a flower garden
Where no-one was allowed to go.

Up stepped a gypsy lady,
All dressed in yellow and green;
"Come in, come in, my pretty little boy,
And get your ball again."

"I can't come in, I shan't come in
Without my playmates all;
I'll go to my father and tell him about it,
That'll cause tears to fall."

She first showed him an apple green,
Then a gay gold ring,
Then she showed him a diamond,
And that enticed him in.

She took him by his lily-white hand,
She led him through the hall;
She put him in an upper room,
Where no-one could hear him call.

"Oh, take these finger rings off my finger,
Smoke them with your breath;
If any of my friends should call for me,
Tell them that I'm at rest."

"Bury the bible at my head,
Testament at my feet;
If my dear mother should call for me,
Tell her that I'm asleep."

"Bury the bible at my feet,
Testament at my head;
If my dear father should call for me,
Tell him that I am dead."

credits

from Misfits Migrants and Murders, released August 7, 2018
Jack, vocals, guitar, steel guitar

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all rights reserved

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Jack Warshaw UK

Veteran of the 1960s folk revival, he passionately believes, writes and sings with authenticity and respect for traditional American styles and song carriers. He has met, learned from or worked with such legends as Pete, Mike and Peggy Seeger, Tom Paley, Ewan MacColl, Bob Dylan, Mississippi John Hurt, Clarence Ashley, Dave Van Ronk, Stuart Burns and many others. Watch Youtube. Bio on Wikipedia ... more

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