Green Grow The Rushes lyrics

Celtic Woman

There's naught but care on every hand
In every hour that passes O
What signifies the life of man
If it were not for the lassies O

Green grow the rushes O
Green grow the rushes O
The sweetest hours that e'er I spent
Are spent among the lassies O

The worldly race may riches chase
And riches still may fly them, O
And though at last they catch them fast
Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them, O

Green grow the rushes, O
Green grow the rushes, O
The sweetest hours that e'er I spent
Are spent among the lassies, O

The sweetest hours that e'er I spent
Are spent among the lassies, O

Green grow the rushes, O
Green grow the rushes, O
The sweetest hours that e'er I spent
Are spent among the lassies, O

Old nature swears the lovley dears
Her noblest work she classes, O
Her apprentice hand she tried on man
Then she made the lassies, O

Green grow the rushes, O
Green grow the rushes, O
The sweetest hours that e'er I spent
Are spent among the lassies, O

Green grow the rushes, O
Green grow the rushes, O
The sweetest hours that e'er I spent
Are spent among the lassies, O
Are spent among the lassies, O

Song Details

Lyrics: Robert Burns - Scottish poet and lyricist (25 Jan 1759 – 21 July 1796).

Earliest date of circulation: 1794 - also known as Green Grow The Rashes (title by Burns).

Brief: The happiest and most joyful times a man experiences in his life are those spent in the company of a woman or lassie. You can either travel the path of life motivated by power or money or travel a less stressful life following the strong impulses of nature.

References:
naught - nothing (variant of nought)
e'er - ever
ne'er - never

Category: Folk Song

Covers: Celtic Woman (featured), Cherish The Ladies, The Limeliters, Altan, Celtic Squall...

DVD by Celtic Woman: Believe (released Jan 24, 2012). The live concert DVD was filmed at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia in Sept 2011.

Green Grow The Rushes chords

Key: C major → D Major
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: 100 bpm (♩)
Capo: 5th fret if playing with the video (F → G)

The song key is highlighted. Transpose to any other key.

Intro: 4/4 ...[C] [C]

1. [C] There's naught but care on ev'ry hand
   [Dm] In ev'ry hour that passes O
   [F] What signifies the [C]life of man
   [Dm] If it were [C]not for the [F]lassies O

Chorus: [C] Green grow the rushes O
        [Dm] Green grow the rushes O
        [F] The sweetest hours that [C]e'er I spent
        [Dm] Are spent a-[C]mong the [F]lassies O  [F]

2. [C] The worldly race may riches chase
   [Dm] And riches still may fly them, O
   [F] And though at last they [C]catch them fast
   [Dm] Their hearts can [C]ne'er en-[F]joy them, O

Chorus: [C] Green grow the rushes O
        [Dm] Green grow the rushes O
        [F] The sweetest hours that [C]e'er I spent
        [Dm] Are spent a-[C]mong the [F]lassies O (key change) [G] 
        
Instr: [A] [Bm]-[A] [E] [E]

        [G] The sweetest hours that [D]e'er I spent
        [G] Are spent a-[D]mong the [G]lassies O

Chorus: [D] Green grow the rushes O
        [Em] Green grow the rushes O - O - [G]O 
        The sweetest hours that [D]e'er I spent
        [Em] Are spent a-[D]mong the [G]lassies O  [G]

3. [D] Old nature swears the lovely dears
   [Em] Her noblest work she classes, O
   [G] Her apprentice hand she [D]tried on man
   [Em] And then she [D]made the [G]lassies, O... [G]

Chorus: [D] Green grow the rushes O
        [Em] Green grow the rushes O - O - [G]O 
        The sweetest hours that [D]e'er I spent
        [Em] Are spent a-[D]mong the [G]lassies O

Chorus: [D] Green grow the rushes O
        [Em] Green grow the rushes O
        [G] The sweetest hours that [D]e'er I spent
        [Em] Are spent a-[D]mong the [G]lassies O [G]
        [Em]... Are spent a-[D]mong the [G]lassies, O... [D]

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