WHEN YOU WORE A TULIP AND I WORE A BIG RED ROSE
(Music: Percy Wenrich / Lyrics: Jack Mahoney)


American Quartet - 1914
Dolly Connolly - 1915
Walter Van Brunt - 1915
John & Emery McClung - 1927
Dolly Connolly (feat. in the film short "Dolly Connolly & Percy Wenrich") - 1928
Billy Jones & Ernest Hare - 1928
Virginia Verrill (dubbing for Jean Harlow in the film "Suzy") - 1936
Hoosier Hot Shots - 1937
Wallace Beery (feat. in the film "Stablemates") - 1938
Chick Bullock - 1939
Freddie "Schnickelfritz" & His Orch. - 1940
Judy Garland & Gene Kelly (feat. in the film "For Me And My Girl") - 1942
Allan Jones & The King Sisters (feat. in the film "Larceny With Music") - 1943
Don Ameche & William Bendix (feat. in the film "Greenwich Village") - 1944
Connie Haines & The Pied Pipers (feat. in the film short "Record Party") - 1947
Jimmy Dorsey & Original Dorseyland Jazz Band (vocal: Charlie Teagarden) - 1950
Jeanne Crain, Clifton Webb & Cast (feat. in the film "Cheaper By The Dozen") - 1950
The Platters - 1960
Michael Redgrave (feat. in the film "Oh! What A Lovely War") - 1969


Also recorded by:
Cliff Edwards; Firehouse Five Plus Two; Eddie Rambeau; Fabulous Heftones; 
Slim Whitman; Chris Barber; Ken Collyer; Frankie Yankovic; Jerry Lee Lewis;
Cliff Carlisle; Duck Baker; Bing Crosby; Alice Faye; Tiny Tim; Sidney Bechet;
Sherwin Linton; Claude Thornhill ........... and many others.


 


I met you in a garden in an old Kentucky town
The sun was shining down, you wore a gingham gown
I kissed you as I placed a yellow tulip in your hair
Upon my coat you pinned a rose so rare
Time has not changed your loveliness, you're just as sweet to me
I love you, yet I can't forget the days that used to be


When you wore a tulip, a sweet yellow tulip
And I wore a big red rose
When you caressed me, 'twas then heaven blessed me
What a blessing, no one knows
You made life cheery when you called me "Dearie"
'Twas down where the bluegrass grows
Your lips were sweeter than julep when you wore that tulip
And I wore a big rose

.

The love you vowed to cherish has not faltered through the years
You banish all my fears, your voice like music cheers
You are the same sweet girl I knew in happy days of old
Your hair is silver, but your heart is gold
Red roses blush no longer in your cheeks so sweet and fair
It seems to me, dear, I can see white roses blooming there


When you wore a tulip, a sweet yellow tulip
And I wore a big red rose
When you caressed me, 'twas then Heaven blessed me
What a blessing, no one knows
You made life cheery when you called me "Dearie"
'Twas down where the blue grass grows
Your lips were sweeter than julep when you wore that tulip
And I wore a big red rose



(Contributed by Bette Carl - May 2002)
(Updated by Mel Priddle & Lizzie - August 2014)



**************


As recorded by JUDY GARLAND & GENE KELLY
with David Rose & His Orch., July 26th 1942, Hollywood:


[jg]
Mister Kelly, if I may,
Remind you to remember the day
Of horseless carriages,
And divorceless marriages.


[gk]
Dear Miss Garland, I presume
That in your memory you've enough room
To reach infinity,
Or that vicinity.


[jg]
My heart booms
Like it had a shot of adrenaline.


[gk]
Your heart booms
At the thought of old lace and crinoline.


[both]
So hold your hats, for here we go
To the dear dead days when a girl's best beau
Had his heart in it,
As he went to the spinet,
And sang to her this charming serenade;


When you wore a tulip,
A sweet yellow tulip,
And I wore a big red rose,
When you caressed me,
It was then heaven blessed me,
What a blessing no-one knows.


You made life cheery
When you called me dearie,
It was down where the blue grass grows.
Your lips were sweeter than julip
When you wore a tulip
And I wore a big red rose.


When you wore a tulip,
Yes, you wore a yellow tulip,
And I, and I wore a rose,
[jg]
A big fat rose!
[both]
When you caressed me,
'Twas then heaven blessed me,
What a bless, what a bless,
What a blessing no-one knows.


You made life cheery
When you called me dearie,
It was down where the blue grass grows.
Your lips were sweeter than julip
When you wore a tulip
And I wore a big red rose.



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - December 2012)