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

Wed Aug 7 21:02:42 UTC 2024

Interesting topic, Ben. Here was a semantic match in a verse from 1883
although the syntax was different:

[Begin excerpt]
. . . give thy flowers to the living;
To the peaceful dead their fragrance is lost.
[End excerpt[

Here are the details:

Date: February 16, 1883
Newspaper: Shullsburg Free Press
Newspaper Location: Shullsburg, Wisconsin
Article: Obituary: Miss M. E. Burlingham
Quote Page 3, Column 5
Database: Newspapers.com

[Begin excerpt]
Dear mother, brother and sisters why grieve?
Thy loved one only has passed on before;
The way is now brighter; draw nearer to Jesus;
You will meet, you will greet her to part nevermore.

Then cease, dear friends; give thy flowers to the living;
To the peaceful dead their fragrance is lost.
God in His wisdom, will help, will comfort thee,
Learn while in sorrow to bear the cross.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Wed, Aug 7, 2024 at 2:49 PM Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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.
>
> ---
> 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.
>
> ---
> 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.
>
> ---
> 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.
>
> ---
> 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
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org