Friday, September 05, 2014

Black Eyed Susan

The 
Black Eyed Susans 
have been blooming since July.
They've been especially prolific this year,
blooming on the sides and center of the highways...
up in the mountains.



I am especially fond of them.

The story goes
that the Mormon pioneers spread the seed from this flower
along the path they took out west,
so other's who followed would know the way.
I learned of this in my favorite book of all time,
'My Antonia'
by Willa  Cather.
In Nebraska,
they call them
'Mormon Flowers'.


I checked out the story,
and it is true.
This time of year they still bloom, 
but the old blossoms turn into
dark seedy circles attached to long brown sticks.
I like those, too.
To me, it is a symbol of the season
that is coming upon us.
And oh, how I love Autumn!


When I was young and single, I purchased a record at a second hand store by 
Jesse Colin Young.
There was a song on it called
'Black Eyed Susan'.
I have loved that song since the day I heard it.
I couldn't find a youtube version of his song,
but found the melody and some of the lyrics.
In looking up the lyrics, there are various
versions.
I personally like JCY's the best as it doesn't talk about
'gettin' a lickin' or his women performing menial labor.
; )
The lyrics I enjoy are below.
I use to sing it to my kiddos when they were tykes.
Under that is a version of the song with the melody I love, 
and some of the lyrics the same.

Black Eyed Susan


All I want in this creation
Is a pretty little girl and a big plantation.
Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan
Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan
Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan, Hey.
All I need to make me happy
Is two little girls to call me Pappy.

Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan
Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan
Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan, Hey.
Up Red Oak and down salt water
Some old man gonna lose his daughter.

Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan
Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan
Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan, Hey.
Love my wife and love my baby
Love my biscuits sopped in gravy.

Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan
Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan
Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan, Hey.
Goin' back home with a pocket full of money

So somebody there to call me honey.

Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan
Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan
Hey Hey Little Black eyed Susan, Hey
These flowers have inspired me as I have grown older.
They thrive on the side of the road in gravel!
I always think,
'If they can survive and thrive in such horrible soil,
so can I'.
I equate it to the trials in life.
They thrive in hard, rocky soil, yet are cheerful.
I aspire to be like them!

This flower above just appeared in my garden
at our Duke St. home.
I always had surprises in that garden,
especially the Black Eyed Susan's
I loved it!

And so, on this beautiful Friday,
I leave with you
a bouquet.


Here's to a splendiferous weekend for you all!
And you know,
I'm always sending positive
vibes your way...

Love to you all!
xoxoxo
~d

1 comment:

  1. Fall, yes Fall....my most favorite time of the year, too. As children, we would always pick Black Eyed Susans and play the game, he loves me, he loves me not. As we picked off one petal at a time, each petal plucked got.......loves me, loves me not. Fun childhood memory. Thanks for bringing it to my mind.

    ReplyDelete

Love to hear from you, little cutie-kins!

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