The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

GREEN GROWS

DURING THE TEXAS-MEXICAN WAR AT MID-NINETEENTH CENTURY, AMERICAN
SOLDIERS SANG "GREEN GROWS THE LAUREL":
GREEN GROWS THE LARUEL, ALL SPARKLING WITH DEW,
I'M LONELY, MY DARLING, SINCE PARTING FROM YOU.
BUT BY THE NEXT MEETING I HOPE TO PROVE TRUE,
AND CHANGE THE GREEN LAUREL FOR THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE.
THE MEXICANS, SEIZING UPON THE FIRST WORDS OF THE SONG, CALLED
THE AMERICANS "GRINGOES," A NAME WHICH HAS STUCK TO AMERICANS
SOUTH OF THE BORDER TO THIS DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT