Green Lilac Hill: Lyrics

Gil Houston and Bob Ecton

• 78 With Rambling, Gambling Man

I often have wondered why women love men
I have wondered so often how men could love them
And by sad experience I found it quite true
That men are deceitful and women are too

Chorus:
Green are the lilacs that grow on the hill
And green is the love that I hold for you still
I love you my darling and I always will
Since the day first kissed you on Green Lilac Hill

My sweetheart and I were so happy and gay
And one day we quarrelled and she went away
Now that's she left me 'tis sad I shall be
I know that she cares no longer for me

Chorus:

I sent her love letters, I wrote her love lines
I tied them with lilacs all twisted in twine
She sent me an answer so very unkind
Saying "Keep your love letters and I will keep mine"

Chorus:

Of note:

Bill Adams

I live in a smallish town of 9,000 in the least attractive part of New Mexico. However, we have a nice library building. And one of the surprising benefits of life in the backwaters is that books tend to stay on the shelves of small-town libraries long, long after they go out-of-print or out-of-date. I recently browsed the music section's reference shelf and found a book titled "Folksingers and Folksongs of America" by Ray Lawless. This was the second edition, published in 1965 by Duell, Sloan and Pierce. The first edition came out in 1960, so most of the information on more than 200 folk and traditional performers was collected in the late 1950's.

In this copy, the Cisco Houston biography takes up parts of pages 118-119. In addition to the standard version of Cisco's life, Mr. Lawless writes: "Besides strictly folk music, Cisco has done recordings for Decca of his own compositions, with, as he says, 'folk flavor.' Among these are 'Green Lilac Hill' and 'Ramblin' Gamblin' Man.' This latter was aired twice on TV, on the Sid Caesar 'Your Show of Shows' hour. Cisco has also recorded in the popular music field with the orchestras of Lynn Murray, Victor Young, Gordon Jenkins and George Barnes."

This prompted a search for these 78s, and we have found some of them. And listened to them. This is one. For better or for worse.

Review:

Jim Clark

Gil the pop singer tries hard with a composition of his own. The syrupy arrangment does not show his voice to its best advantage though. Not a bad one, but nothing eternal here. See the sheet music cover: Here for a view of how hard he was working to break through.

We welcome any suggestions, contributions, or questions. You send it, we'll consider using it. Help us spread the word. And the music. And thanks for visiting.