QUEEN OF THE MAY (aka BRING FLOWERS OF THE RAREST)
(Mary E. Walsh - 1883 / Based on the
Traditional 13th Century Catholic Hymn)
Frank Patterson - 1996
Daniel O'Donnell - 2003
Also Recorded by: John McDermott;
Phil Coulter (under the title "Bring Flowers Of The Fairest")
Bring flowers of the fairest
Bring flowers of the rarest
From garden and woodland
And hillside and vale
Our full hearts are swelling
Our Glad voices telling
The praise of the loveliest
Rose of the vale
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May
Our voices ascending,
In harmony blending
Oh! Thus may our hearts turn
Dear Mother, to thee
Oh! Thus shall we prove thee
How truly we love thee
How dark without Mary
Life's journey would be
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May
O Virgin most tender
Our homage we render
Thy love and protection
Sweet Mother, to win
In danger defend us
In sorrow befriend us
And shield our hearts
From contagion and sin
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May
Of Mothers the dearest
Oh, wilt thou be nearest
When life with temptation
Is darkly replete
Forsake us, O never
Our hearts be they ever
As Pure as the lilies
We lay at thy feet
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May
******
DIFFERENT VERSION - Origin Unknown
Bring flow'rs of the fairest, bring flow'rs of the rarest
From garden and woodland and hillside and vale
Our full hearts are swelling, our glad voices telling
The praise of the loveliest Rose of the vale.
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May
O Mary we crown thee with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May
The sun is shining brightly
The trees are clothed with green
The beauteous bloom of flowers
On ev'ry side is seen
And all the world is gay
For 'tis the month of Mary
The lovely month of May
There's music in the heavens
For birds are singing there
And nature's songs and praises
Are sounding through the air
With joy we'll sing today
For 'tis the month of Mary
The lovely month of May
And when night closes o'er us
And twinkling stars appear
The chaste moon calmly reigneth
In skies so bright and clear
In heaven far away
There reigns o'er saints and angels
Our lovely Queen of May
Hail! Virgin, dearest Mary
Our lovely Queen of May
All spotless blessed Lady
Accept our gladsome lay
Thy children humbly bending
Around thy shrine so fair;
With heart and voice ascending
Sweet Mary, hear our pray'r
Hail! Mary, sunclad Virgin
Our smiling Queen of May
All sinless, star-crowned Lady
Accept our tuneful lay
We've gathered fresh bright flowers
To wreath our fair queen's brow
From gay and verdant bowers
We haste to crown thee now
Queen of the Angels
Queen of the May
******
