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

Wed Aug 7 22:55:06 UTC 2024

Yeah, once you loosen up the phrasing you'll find many other variations on
the theme. Here's "send your flowers to the living" from 1882.

---
Western Christian Advocate, July 12, 1882, p. 218 [ProQuest]
"Precious Ointment" by Mrs. Lou A. Morris
Send your flowers to the living,
Do not keep them for the grave--
They may comfort some poor mourner,
They may strengthen, help, and save.
Send them in their fragrant beauty--
Show your friendship true and warm;
What would care a rosewood casket?
What would care a lifeless form?
---

On Wed, Aug 7, 2024 at 5:02 PM ADSGarson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 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
>

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