We'll Gather Lilacs
We'll Gather Lilacs, also called We'll Gather Lilacs In The Spring, is a song by Welsh composer Ivor Novello, which he wrote for the hit musical romance "Perchance to Dream". The stage musical opened at the Hippodrome Theatre in London's West End in 1945 and ran until 1948. The song, sung in the show by Olive Gilbert,[1] was the most popular and enduring to emerge from the production. It was recorded originally by Geraldo and his Orchestra who made the UK charts with it in 1946. It has since been performed by many artists including notably Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth, Richard Tauber, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Julie Andrews.[2][3]
Written as World War Two drew to its close the song describes the yearning for parted couples to be reunited with their loved one. It describes the joy of togetherness once again and the pleasures of the English countryside in spring with its lilac blossom.[4]
The song was performed at Novello's cremation in 1951.[1]
Chorus
We'll gather lilacs in the spring again
And walk together down an English lane
Until our hearts have learnt to sing again
When you come home once more.[5]
References
- 1 2 "Miss Olive Gilbert", The Times, 20 February 1981, p. 16, col. G
- ↑ Ivor Novello biography at Spartacus Educational Accessed 2013
- ↑ Ellacott, Vivyan.Perchance to Dream, London Musicals: 1945–1949, p. 4, Over the Footlights, accessed 15 January 2013
- ↑ Ivor Novello, master of the musical Simon Callow, The Guardian, 3 August 2012
- ↑ http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/w/wellgatherlilacs.shtml
