Where the Purple Lilacs Grow

"Where the Purple Lilacs Grow"

song about New Hampshire

sung by Patricia Cummings, Concord, NH

Lilacs and splasher

French Purple Lilacs liven up a "wash stand," with a Redwork splasher

I don't know the real title of this song, nor who wrote it, or when. This is a song that was taught to 4-H kids at summer camp. Someone asked to hear it, so here it is. If anyone knows more about the song, I'd like to know. I tried to "Google" it and came up with nothing.

Update on January 19, 2009

New Hampshire is great in any season. Right now, we are in the midst of another snowstorm and I would estimate that about eight new inches of snow are on the ground. Just now, a deer came into our front yard that has a white fence between it and the busy street.

The cars going by seemed to be concentrating on the bad road conditions and perhaps never noticed the deer who was alert, but eating as many Rose hips as possible. We had thought about harvesting them to make Rose hip tea, but now we are happy that we left them there for this poor, hungry deer.

She had been showing up with her friend, all this past week. Now, he is among the missing. She was spotted laying in a snowbank, down the hill and across the stream, on our property, yesterday, again, alone.

We love to see wildlife but worry about them wandering into the street. This deer likes old Sweet Pea vines, Goldenrod fronds, and now Rose Hips. I guess our yard is deer-friendly.

Colorado?

Curiously, we received an e-mail from a man who believes that this song is about Colorado. Anyone who has more information than we do, on the origins of this musical piece, is welcome to enlighten us. pat@quiltersmuse.com

Another Update - On October 13, 2009

Hi Pat,

I wanted to respond to something you said on the Quilter's Muse website about the song "Where the Purple Lilacs Grow." You mentioned that someone told you it was a Colorado song. Well, there are two completely different songs with the same title. One is the very pretty New Hampshire song that you're familiar with, and the other is indeed a Colorado song with the same title. I have sheet music for the Colorado song. The words and music are by Walter B. Cooper, it's published by Walco Music Co., Fort Collins, Colorado, with a copyright date of 1951. The lyrics go like this:

In Fort Collins, Colorado where the purple lilacs grow,

Where the sun is always shining, where the mountain breezes blow,

There are friendly folks to greet you, there is music soft and low,

In Fort Collins, Colorado where the purple lilacs grow.

You can see the children playing, you can hear the song birds sing,

You can know that friendly feeling with the joy that friends can bring;

But the lofty snowcapped rockies 'neath the crags that thrill you so,

That's Fort Collins, Colorado, where the purple lilacs grow.

Considering the lyrics alone, there are interesting similarities between the two songs. When you read the Colorado lyrics, they tempt you to sing it to the tune of the New Hampshire tune. However, the melodies of the two songs are not at all similar. Both are charming and distinctive melodies, each in their own way -- but not the same. The Colorado melody is very professional, and I don't mean to put it down, some people are probably crazy about it, and recordings of it can be found on the Internet. But I find that the New Hampshire melody has a more potent, and particular charm to it.

Also, since the Colorado song is copyrighted in 1951 ... I suspect that the New Hampshire song was around before then, although I don't know as I first heard the New Hampshire song about 1955. If so, it's possible that Walter Cooper was inspired or influenced by the New Hampshire song's lyrics when he wrote his own version.

However ... I still can't track down any new information about where the New Hampshire version came from. There is yet one music library I want to check. They might know.

Best, -- Richard Cottrell

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Thanks to all of our readers who always come through with answers!