Green Grow The Rushes, Ho (or O) (aka The Twelve Prophets, or The Carol Of The Twelve Numbers, or The Teaching Song), is a folk song popular in the United States of America as well as in England, Scotland, and Wales. The song was first recorded in Hebrew in the 16th century and probably much older than that; at the present, it is sometimes sung as a Christmas carol. Some linguists fallaciously claim that the Mexican word 'gringo' is derived from the words green grow, which were heard throughout Mexico when sung as a marching song by US soldiers during the Mexican-American War. The song is not to be confused with Robert Burns' Green Grow The Rashes, O, with which it shares only the title. It is cumulative in structure, with each verse built up from the previous verse by appending a new stanza. The first verse is: Folk music can have a number of different meanings, including: Traditional music: The original meaning of the term folk music was synonymous with the term Traditional music, also often including World Music and Roots music; the term Traditional music was given its more specific meaning to distinguish it from the... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Monarch Queen Elizabeth II... This article is about the country. ... This article is about the country. ... This page is about carols in general; for the short story by Charles Dickens, see A Christmas Carol. ... An American woman reads the Gringo Gazette in Cabo San Lucas. ... Robert Burns, foremost Scottish poet Robert Burns (January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796) was a poet and a lyricist. ... A cumulative song is a song whose verses are built from earlier verses, usually by simply adding a new stanza to the previous verse. ...

I'll sing you one, Ho (or O)

Green grow the rushes, Ho

What is your one, Ho?

One is one and all alone

And evermore shall be (it) so.

Lyrics

The twelfth, cumulated, verse runs:

I'll sing you twelve, Ho

Green grow the rushes, Ho

What are your twelve, Ho?

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, (or April Showerers, or occasionally Eight for the eight bold Rangers)

Seven for the seven stars in the sky, (or Seven for the seven who went to Heaven)

Six for the six proud walkers, (or brown walkers)

Five for the symbols at your door,

Four for the Gospel makers,

Three, three, the rivals,

Two, two, the lily-white boys,

Clothèd all in green, Ho

One is one and all alone (sometimes One is one and one alone or One is one and stands alone)

And evermore shall be (it) so.

Interpretation

The lyrics of the song are in many places extremely obscure, and present an unusual mixture of Christian catechesis, astronomical mnemonics, and what may very well be pagan cosmology. The song's origins are uncertain, but the first recorded instance of it is in Hebrew: it may have originated in the intricacies of medieval Jewish thought, although the Kabbalistic mystics were seldom interested in composing songs. A parallel may also be drawn with the Jewish Passover song Echad Mi Yodeia (Who Knows One?), wherein the number five represents the books of the Pentateuch, two represents the luchot habrit (the stone tablets on which the 10 commandments are said to have been carved), and one represents "Our Lord, our Lord, our Lord who is in the heavens and the earth". This article is about traditional Jewish Kabbalah. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Dayenu and Had Gadia be merged into this article or section. ... Look up Pentateuch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... (Redirected from 10 commandments) This article is about the list of religious and moral imperatives. ...

"Green grow the rushes, Ho (or O)" sounds sufficiently out of place that one is inclined to ascribe it to the same origin as "Fine flowers in the valley" in one version of the ballad The Cruel Mother – namely, an attempt to turn a misremembered line of Gaelic into its nearest English phonetic equivalent. However, the song did not originate in the British Isles; thus, the line must have been included for a conscious reason, or been the product of an earlier disruption. The Cruel Mother (Roud 9, Child 20) is a murder ballad. ...

Twelve for the twelve Apostles

This refers to the twelve Apostles of Jesus, although the number has other meanings; it may originally have referred to the months of the year, for example. The Twelve Apostles (in Koine Greek απόστολος apostolos [1], someone sent forth/sent out, an emissary) were probably Galilean Jewish men (10 names are Aramaic, 4 names are Greek) chosen from among the disciples, who were sent forth by Jesus of Nazareth to preach the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ...

Eleven for the eleven who went to heaven

These are the eleven Apostles who remained faithful (minus Judas Iscariot), or possibly St Ursula and her companions. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      For other uses, see Judas. ... Saint Ursula on the coat-of-arms of British Virgin Islands Ursula (small female bear in Latin) is a British Christian saint. ...

Ten for the ten commandments

This refers, of course, to the ten commandments given to Moses. This 1768 parchment (612x502 mm) by Jekuthiel Sofer emulated the 1675 Decalogue at Amsterdam Esnoga synagogue. ... Moses with the Tablets, 1659, by Rembrandt This article is about the Biblical figure. ...

Nine for the nine bright shiners

The nine may be an astronomical reference, although counting the Sun, Moon and planets known before 1781 yields at most eight. It could potentially refer to the nine orders (or 'choirs') of angels. Also in the Bible, Jesus tells a story about girls going to a wedding- some did not bring extra oil for their lamps and had to go back for more, therefore missing the wedding. The other girls, however, brought extra oil for their lamps, hence "bright shiners". According to medieval Christian theologians, the Angels are organized into several orders, or Angelic Choirs. ...

Eight for the April Rainers (or April Showerers, or occasionally Eight for the eight bold Rangers)

The April rainers refer to the Hyades star cluster, called the 'rainy Hyades' in classical times, and rising with the sun in April – the Greeks thought of them as inaugurating the April rains. "Eight bold rangers" is a very recent corruption, most likely the consequence of singers with more knowledge of Tolkien than of Ancient Greece.^{[citation needed]} Hyades can refer to the mythological Hyades the open star cluster Hyades the italian thrash metal band This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... J. R. R. Tolkien in 1916, wearing his British Army uniform in a photograph from the middle years of WW1. ... The Temple of Athena, the Parthenon Ancient Greece is a period in Greek history that lasted for around nine hundred years. ...

Seven for the seven stars in the sky (or Seven for the seven who went to Heaven)

The seven are probably either the Seven Sisters, the Pleiades star cluster, or perhaps Ursa Major, the Big Dipper. They may also be the planets or other stars. Alternatively, the seven stars may be those referred to in Revelation chapter 1. They are first cited in verse 16 as being held in the right hand of Christ and then explained as referring to seven angels of the seven early Christian churches. The seven stars could also be a reference to the Jewish cross, which is also a constellation over Israel. For alternate meanings see Pleiades (disambiguation). ... Ursa Major (IPA: ) is a constellation visible throughout the year in most of the northern hemisphere. ... Big Dipper map A group of the brightest stars of the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear, form a well-known asterism that has been recognized as a distinct grouping in many cultures from time immemorial. ... Revelation This article is about prophecy. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      A Christian () is a person who...

Six for the six proud walkers

The six seems to be a historical reference, but remains obscure. It is possible that they were members of a Saxon warband who beat the bounds of their fortified camp in a traditional way between AD 450 and 1066. Perhaps it is a Biblical reference to Ezekiel 9:2 - six men with swords come in a vision of the prophet to slaughter the people, whose leaders (8:16) have committed such sins as turning East to worship the Sun, and "have filled the land with violence". It may also be a corruption of 'waters', but what "the six bold waters" would refer to remains elusive. Events January 6 - Harold II is crowned September 20 - Battle of Fulford September 25 - Battle of Stamford Bridge September 29 - William of Normandy lands in England at Pevensey. ... Ezekiel (Hebrew: יחזקאל, ) is a prophet in the Hebrew Bible of the Book of Ezekiel. ...

Five for the symbols at your door

This probably alludes to the practice of putting a pentagram at the door of a house to ward off witches and evil spirits; this was relatively common in the late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, and is alluded to in no shortage of literary works from or set in those eras. It can also refer to the five books of Moses - the pentateuch. An alternative interpretation is given by John Timpson in his book Timpson's England, where he states that it refers to five symbols displayed above the doorways of houses that would shelter Catholic priests. He gives an example a house where these can still be seen. The symbols above the door could also mean the mezuzah, which contains a section of the Torah and is inscribed with symbols. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... The early modern period is a term initially used by historians to refer mainly to the post Late Middle Ages period in Western Europe (Early modern Europe), its first colonies marked by the rise of strong centralized governments and the beginnings of recognizable nation states that are the direct antecedents... Moses with the Tablets, 1659, by Rembrandt This article is about the Biblical figure. ... Look up Pentateuch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... John Timpson (1928-November 19, 2005), was a British journalist, best known as a radio presenter. ... Mezuzah (IPA: ) (Heb. ...

Four for the Gospel makers

This refers to the four Evangelists, Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. Evangelism is the proclaiming of the Christian Gospel. ... Matthew the Evangelist (מתי, Gift of the LORD, Standard Hebrew and Tiberian Hebrew: Mattay; Septuagint Greek: Μαθθαιος, Matthaios) is an important Christian figure best known as one of Jesus Twelve Apostles. ... Mark the Evangelist (מרקוס, Greek: Μάρκος) (1st century) is traditionally believed to be the author of the Gospel of Mark and a companion of Peter. ... Luke the Evangelist (לוקא, Greek: Loukas) is said by tradition to be the author of both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, the third and fifth books of the New Testament. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Names of John. ...

Three, three, the rivals

Some have suggested that the three alluded to here are the Trinity, but this leaves "the rivals" unexplained. The I Ching contains the interesting proverb that "When three meet together, doubts arise among them", although it probably has no bearing on the interpretation of this song. It could also refer to the three major religious traditions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity, or to the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, alluding to the previous line. These three give similar though slightly different accounts of the life of Christ. The "three rivals" could also be Peter, James and John, who are often mentioned together in the Gospels and at one time: "A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest" (Luke 22:24). Pastor Paul Kolch of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sacramento taught that the three referred to Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego, who resisted burning in the fiery furnace and were "rivals" to the Babylonians. Alternative meaning: I Ching (monk) The I Ching (Traditional Chinese: 易經, pinyin y jīng; Cantonese IPA: jɪk6gɪŋ1; Cantonese Jyutping: jik6ging1; alternative romanizations include I Jing, Yi Ching, Yi King) is the oldest of the Chinese classic texts. ... Look up proverb in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... For the genre of Christian-themed music, see gospel music. ...

Some suggest it refers to three similar and adjacent mountains in Wales.

It has also been suggested that "rivals" is a corruption of "the arrivals" and refers to the three Magi of the Nativity arriving at Jesus' cradle; or that it is a corruption of the Yorkshire "thirdings" or "thridings", meaning "three" and refers to the Christian trinity. Discussed here: [1]

Two, two, the lily-white boys

Clothèd all in green, Ho

The two remain obscure. Jesus and John the Baptist have been suggested, as have the holly and the ivy (although the holly berry is red and the ivy berry is black, both have white wood and are evergreen). Pagan tradition also has the holly and the ivy as male and female, so they are not both "boys". The two may, instead, be holly and mistletoe (which has white berries with green branches), which would align more closely with the tradition of the defeat at Yule of the Holly King by the Oak King (mistletoe 'traditionally' grows on oak trees, although it will grow on other types of tree). Robert Graves, indeed, suggested that they are the Holly King and Oak King. There is also some suggestion that the two may be the Old and New Testaments, perhaps referring to some mediaeval tradition, although "Clothèd all in green" strongly suggests that the two "boys" were in some way connected with the growth of plants. This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... For the hip-hop producer with the same name, see John the Baptist (producer). ... Yule is the winter solstice celebration of the Scandinavian Norse mythology and Germanic pagans. ... Holly King may refer to: Holly King (actress) (born 1976) - American film actress, TV personality, and reality TV contestant Holly King (artist) (born 1957) - Quebec artist [1] Holly King: Landscapes of the Imagination (ISBN 0-88884-725-4) by Pierre Dessureault Holly King (myth) - A mythical figure [2] Category: ... Robert von Ranke Graves (24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985) was an English poet, scholar, and novelist. ...

Another explanation is that the statues of St John and Our Lady which, in Christian Churches, flank the Crucifix on the Altar reredos or the Rood screen were, during Holy Week, bound with rushes to cover them. (During Holy Week, from Palm Sunday until Easter Day, all statues, crosses, and crucifixes are traditionally covered from view, and all flowers are removed from the Church). The two figures were portrayed in similar garments, hence "lily-white boys", and wrapped in rushes they were "Clothèd all in green". An altar and reredos from University Church, Dublin A reredos is a screen or decoration behind the altar in a church, usually depicting religious iconography or images. ... Holy Week (Latin: ) in Christianity is the last week of Lent. ... Palm Sunday is a moveable feast in the Christian calendar which falls on the Sunday before Easter. ... Easter is the most important religious holiday of the Christian liturgical year, observed in March, April, or May to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, which Christians believe occurred after his death by crucifixion in AD 27-33 (see Good Friday). ...

The phrase could also allude to an ancient ritual of painting two people from a village white and sending them off to die, therefore cleansing the village of its sins. The verse has also been changed to "lily-white doves" in some interpretations of the songs in reference to Noah's Ark. A painting by the American Edward Hicks (1780–1849), showing the animals boarding Noahs Ark two by two. ...

One is one and all alone (sometimes One is one and one alone or One is one and stands alone)

One would suppose that the "One" of the last line would be God, but God in the Middle Ages was more commonly thought of as the Trinity, and "One is one and one alone", if applied to God, sounds more like Jewish or Muslim theology than Christian in its strong insistence on the Divine unity. This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... This article or section contains too many quotations for an encyclopedic entry. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      A Christian () is a person who...

Media

Image File history File links Children_Go_Where_I_Send_Thee_. ... Software development stages In computer programming, development stage terminology expresses how the development of a piece of software has progressed and how much further development it may require. ...

Alternate titles

• Children Go Where I Send Thee
• I'll Sing You One Oh
• The Carol Of The Twelve Numbers
• The Twelve Apostles
• The Dilly Song
• The Dilly Carol
• The Counting Song

Related works

• The spiritual Go Where I Send Thee has a similar format, counting down from ten (twelve, in some versions) biblical references.
• The song The Ten Commandments, on Figgy Duff's album After The Tempest is a variant of this song that that does not include the eleventh and twelfth symbols.
• There is also a song titled Green Grow The Rushes on REM's album Fables Of The Reconstruction, which refers to and is partially based upon this song.
• A filk song titled High Fly the Nazgul-O! uses the same tune but the lyrics have been changed to refer to The Lord of the Rings.
• The comedy character Rambling Syd Rumpo sang parodies called Green Grow My Nadgers, O and Green Grows My Boglin' Fork on the Round The Horne radio comedy programme.
• In the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta The Yeomen Of The Guard, the opening phrases of the duet I Have A Song To Sing, O were inspired by a variant of this song, beginning "Come, and I will sing you" (refer to Ian Bradley's Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan p778 and 780).

In The Children of Green Knowe, by Lucy M. Boston, Tolly sings the last two lines of the song. In the 'Too Many Christmas Trees' episode of the 1960's U.K. T.V.Series 'The Avengers', Steed and sings the first two verses of this song to avoid having his mind influenced by his adversaries with psychic powers. Look up spiritual in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Figgy Duff was a Canadian folk-rock band from Newfoundland. ... This article is about the band. ... Fables of the Reconstruction is the third studio album released by the American band R.E.M. on the I.R.S. Records label, in 1985. ... Filk is a form of music created from within fandom, and performed generally late at night at science fiction conventions. ... Illustration of the Witch-King of Angmar, the leader of the Nazgúl. ... The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel written by the English academic J. R. R. Tolkien. ... Rambling Syd Rumpo was a folk singer character played by English comedian Kenneth Williams in the radio comedy series Round the Horne. ... Round the Horne was one of the most influential BBC Radio comedy programmes, comparable to The Goon Show in its influence on other comedy programmes. ... Playwright/lyricist William S. Gilbert (1836-1911) and composer Arthur S. Sullivan (1842-1900) defined operetta in Victorian England with a series of their internationally successful and timeless works. ... Operetta (literally, little opera) is a performance art-form similar to opera, though it generally deals with less serious topics. ... The Yeomen of the Guard, or The Merryman and his Maid, is the eleventh of Gilbert and Sullivans operettas. ...