[Ads-l] "give (someone) their flowers" + variations

Wed Aug 7 18:48:41 UTC 2024

The expression "give (someone) their flowers" has become more popular
lately, with "flowers" metaphorically used to mean "credit, recognition,
appreciation." It has a long tradition chiefly in AAE usage, with many
variations on the theme. I've included some research findings below.

The idea of "giving someone their flowers" now, while they're still living
(i.e., not waiting until their funeral) is recorded in sermons back to the
late 19th century.

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https://www.newspapers.com/image/609799074/
Evening Mail (Stockton, Calif.), July 13, 1889, p. 1
[Sermon by Rev. T.A. Cowan:] Sing now the song of joy to them. Give them
flowers now; they will not be able to see those you bring to their funeral.
Speak the word of commendation now; they will soon be where they will not
need it.
---
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1049636703/
The Call (Lafayette, Ind.), May 25, 1896, p. 4
[Memorial Day address by Rev. C.M. Carter, First Baptist Church, on Civil
War veterans:] Give them flowers now before they die. [...] We are only too
glad to put flowers on their graves when they are dead. But we would better
put some money in the pockets while they are alive.
---
https://www.newspapers.com/image/668960683
Albion (Neb.) Argus, Jan 31, 1902, p. 4
[Seventh Day Adventist funeral sermon:] Don't neglect them now, don't speak
cross to them now and then when they are in their casket shower a bushel of
flowers on them to be seen of men and with the vain thought of easing your
guilty conscience for cross words and neglect. Give them the flowers now in
the form of kind words that when they pass away you may have the blessed
memory that you never caused them any heartaches.
---

The sentiment inspired verses in the spiritual tradition, often put in the
first person as "give me my flowers now."

---
https://archive.org/details/canadianmagazine10torouoft/page/538/mode/1up
Canadian Magazine, Apr. 1898, p. 538
"Give Me My Flowers Now" by A. Isabel Wonham
Give me my flowers now,
I'll care not when I'm dead,
For the roses 'neath my head
Give me my flowers now.
[etc.]
---
https://archive.org/details/heartthrobs0000unse_c0h3/page/40/mode/2up
Heart Throbs (National Magazine), 1905, p. 40
"Give Them the Flowers Now" by Leigh M. Hodges
Closed eyes can’t see the white roses,
Cold hands can’t hold them, you know;
Breath that is stilled cannot gather
The odors that sweet from them blow.
Death, with a peace beyond dreaming,
Its children of earth doth endow;
Life is the time we can help them,
So give them the flowers now!
[etc.]
---
https://archive.org/details/gospelherald192720kauf/page/1020/mode/2up
Gospel Herald, Feb. 23, 1928, p. 1021
"Give Flowers Now" by S.W. Griffin
Give me my flowers now — not costly, fragile flowers,
But blossoms from the garden of your love,
The little kindnesses that cheer the hours
That otherwise so dull and weary prove.
Weave your appreciation and your praise
Into a song to cheer the passing days.
Give me my flowers now!
[etc.]
---

There's evidence of a minstrel song with the line "give me my flowers now"
as early as 1913.

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https://archive.org/details/sim_congressional-record-proceedings-and-debates_september-22-1913-december-1-1913_50/page/9658/mode/2up
Congressional Record, Oct. 15, 1913, p. 5659
[Ohio congressman Stanley E. Bowdle:] Mr. Speaker, the other night I heard
[minstrel performer] Lew Dockstader sing a song entitled "There is no fun
in a graveyard; therefore give me my flowers now."
---
https://archive.org/details/syllabusofnorthw34nort/page/n377/mode/2up
Syllabus of Northwestern University, 1914, p. 376
Give them their flowers now — there is no fun in a graveyard. [possibly
alluding to the song]
---

Variations appear in numerous African American newspapers starting around
1930. Here are examples from the ProQuest Historical Black Newspapers
database.

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Philadelphia Tribune, Mar. 6, 1930, p. 12
Give them their flowers now when they may see and enjoy their fragrance.
---
Pittsburgh Courier, Apr. 6, 1935, p. A9
"Give me my flowers while I live [so?] I can enjoy them. etc.," was
evidenced for Minnie Brown, soprano, in a testimonial of appreciation and
love.
---
Chicago Defender, Nov. 27, 1943, p. 20
[Charles] Handy said his ailing brother [W.C. Handy] whose philosophy has
always been "give me my flowers while I can still smell them" smiled when
radio program after program from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific coast
was interrupted to pay tribute to him.
---
Cleveland Call and Post, Nov. 26, 1949, p. 10A
Mrs. Evelyn Thurman read a poem titled: "Give Them Their Flowers Now."
---
Michigan Chronicle, Detroit, Mich., May 20, 1950, p. 9
When achievements have been attained by individuals or organizations,
regardless of how young the individual or new the organization, recognize
them. Don't wait until they can no longer hear, or care if you speak well
of them. As the saying goes, "Give them the flowers while they live."
-- 
Los Angeles Sentinel, Oct. 5, 1950, p. C1
She stated that she wanted to give them their flowers while they lived for
faithful service.
--
Cleveland Call and Post, Nov. 11, 1950, p. 6A
Give them their flowers while they live,
If such honors they do deserve,
While to the world the best they give,
Through those they strive to serve.
---
New Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), Nov. 25, 1950, p. E7
Rev. Mr. Cannon...read a poem, "Give Them Their Flowers Now," and in a
brief talk emphasized the moral of the verses.
---

The Miami-based gospel group The Consolers (the husband-and-wife duo of
Sullivan and Iola Pugh) released a song in 1955 called "Give Me My Flowers"
on the Nashboro label.

---
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR4lmxXriRc
https://www.discogs.com/release/1514425-The-Consolers-Give-Me-My-Flowers-Nobody-Knows
"Give Me My Flowers"
Give me my flowers while I yet live
So that I can see the beauty that they bring.
Speak kind words to me while I can hear them
So that I can hear the comfort that they bring.
[etc.]
---

Rev. James Cleveland later covered the Consolers song (released on a 1965
album).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p91x-W3zsQo
https://www.discogs.com/release/24325703-James-Cleveland-With-The-Angelic-Choir-Volume-5-Give-Me-My-Flowers

A 1956 reference to the Consolers song provides an early example of the
elliptical form "give them their flowers" without any following words.

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Atlanta Daily World, Mar. 7, 1956, p. 7
Marion E. Jackson, "Sports of the World"
But as the Consolers of Miami, Fla., sang "Give Me My Flowers While I Can
Smell Them." [...] I think Morehouse and Morris Brown deserve the accolades
that have come their way and that they will be finer competitors next
season. Give them their flowers!!
---

Less elliptical variations (e.g. with "...while they're alive" or "...now")
continue to be used, but recent usage seems to prefer "give [s.o.] their
flowers" as a standalone phrase without necessarily evoking the end of a
person's life.

--bgz

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