Does anyone know what the eight for the April Rainers refers to in Green Grow the Rushes O and is it true the three rivals are mountains in Wales?

McGruff

This site suggests the 'three' are probably the three Magi, or refers to the Trinity. There are three mountains in Wales known by that name, but the other translation makes more sense. As for 'eight for the April rainers' the Oxford dictionary says 'eight brave rangers' which could be a case of misheard and mislearned lyrics, but does not offer an explanation of who or what the eight rangers were. http://www.acronet.net/~robokopp/english/greengro.htm Jun 01 02, 7:28 AM

McG

I'm finding more evidence that suggests to me the lyrics have been corrupted. From a forums board someone said they learned 'Three, three rivals' as 'the three arrivals' (making more sense as the Magi) and the other verse as 'eight bold rangers' which sounds more like it could be slurred into 'April rainers' with the addition of the 'L'. The fact that 'April rainers' is nonsensical makes me feel for certain the lyrics have been transcribed by 'ear' somewhere along the line and woefully misinterpreted. Jun 01 02, 7:44 AM

McG	Another line I'm finding a rather silly interpretation of is 'Two, two, the lily-white boys, clothed all in green-o' which should probably be 'Two, two, the lily and the rose, that shine both red and green-o'. You shouldn't have got me started on this! Jun 01 02, 7:55 AM

flea bite

Thanks McG. I think I agree with you about the lily and the rose.The Magi certainly seems the best bet as the three arrivals. Those April rainers are still bugging me. Jun 05 02, 12:11 PM

Lily	Nigel Rees in Bloomsbury Phrases and Sayings, says that a 1625 version refers to the people in Noahs ark, who might well be described as 'bold rangers' Jun 06 02, 7:03 AM

fpgjc

Verse 8 is the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount, which could have become 'April Rainers' by way of the Book of Isaiah, ch.45, verse 8, 'You heavens above, rain down {righteousness;} let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with {it;} I, the LORD, have created it (NIV translation).' This passage appears in the medieval 'Liber Usualis' the main source of gregorian chant in monastic services, also well-known to the medieval scholastics, and to scholars of the Renaissance. See William Dunbar's 16th century poem of the same name: 'Rorate Coeli Desuper.' http://www.acronet.net/~robokopp/english/anewdial.htm Jun 06 02, 7:59 AM