Green Grow the Lilacs is a folk song of Irish origin that was popular in the United States during the mid 1800s. Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and of the people. ... 1800 (MDCCC) was an common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

The song title is familiar as the source of an extremely dubious popular etymology for the word gringo, supposedly being a Hispanicization of "green grow," which Mexicans certainly could have heard U.S. troops singing during the Mexican-American War. (See gringo for a derivation from griego, which dictionaries suggest is more likely). A fake etymology, is an invented explanation (etymology) for the origin of a word. ... Gringo (feminine, gringa) is a informal term in the Spanish and Portuguese languages used to refer to foreigners, especially those from the United States. ... Combatants United States Mexico Commanders Zachary Taylor Winfield Scott Stephen W. Kearney Antonio López de Santa Anna Mariano Arista Pedro de Ampudia Strength 60,000 40,000 Casualties KIA: 1,733 Total dead: 13,283 Wounded: 4,152 25,000 (Mexican government estimate) The Mexican-American War was fought... Gringo (feminine, gringa) is a informal term in the Spanish and Portuguese languages used to refer to foreigners, especially those from the United States. ...

The title, Green Grow the Lilacs, refers to the folk song of the 1931 play by Lynn Riggs which became the libretto for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... Green Grow the Lilacs is a folk song of Irish origin that was popular in the United States during the mid 1800s. ... A libretto is the complete body of words used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, musical, and ballet. ... Rodgers and Hammerstein were an American songwriting duo consisting of Richard Rodgers (1902–1979) and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960). ... Oklahoma! (1943) was the first musical play written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II, working together (see Rodgers and Hammerstein). ...

One version of the lyrics (there are innumerable variations) opens:

Green grow the lilacs, all sparkling with dew

I'm lonely, my darling, since parting with you;

But by our next meeting I'll hope to prove true

And change the green lilacs to the Red, White and Blue.

I once had a sweetheart, but now I have none

She's gone and she's left me, I care not for one

Since she's gone and left me, contented I'll be,

For she loves another one better than me.