Gringo

Clan
Sinclair

History

Modern
History

Battle
   of the
   Boyne
   1690

Battle
   of the
   Wabash
   1791

Battle
   of
   Waterloo
   1815

gringo,
   Green
   Grow
   1836?
   1845?

B.
Balaklava
1854

[Battle of Eureka Stockade, Victoria, Australia]

   B.
   Eureka
   Stockade
   1854

B.
   Chickamauga
   Creek
   1863

Wedding in
Caithness
1875

Battle
   of
   Ypres
   1915

Battle
   of
   Loos
   1915

Battle
   of
   Dunkirk
   1940

Battle
   of
   Dieppe
   1942

Sponsor:

Gringo: Green Grow?

This item isn't really specific to Sinclairs, but it came up on the Sinclair Discussion List, and it is bound to recur again, so let's compile the usual points here for later reference.

The word gringo in Spanish is a common disparaging term for a non-Hispanic person, especially for a norteamericano, or U.S. citizen. English dictionaries say that the word gringo is derived from the Spanish word griego, which means Greek, with the connotation of ``foreigner,'' much as in the English expression ``it's all Greek to me.''

North of the U.S.-Mexico border the word is often supposed to have come from an incident when non-Hispanics from north of Mexico were fighting Mexicans, and while fighting they sang a popular song. There are at least two versions of the story, involving two different songs, and each of the songs has at least two different versions.

Green Grow the Rushes-O

Did Gringoes First Grow in Scotland?

From: "Ward Ginn" <wginn@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 12:45:46 -0500

Is any one familiar with supposedly an old Scottish folk tune called "Green Grow the Rashes O?'" As explained below, at least one person believes that this song influenced the construction of a term used by some in their reference to those living north of the border. I would be interested in all of the lyrics of this piece which apparently was a Scottish marching song back in the early 1800s.

Alistair Moffat in his book Arthur and the Lost Kingdoms gives what I consider to be a classic example of how names of things and places can be derived based on confusion and misunderstanding. Alistair states, "Why do the Mexicans call the Americans Gringos? It is a strange term with an even stranger origin. When Davie Crockett, Jim Bowie and the other heroes of Texas's war against Mexico were besieged in the Alamo, they had a small force of about eighty Scots mercenaries with them. The Scots' marching song was the folk-tune 'Green Grow the Rashes O' and that is why Santa Ana's army and finally the whole of Mexico called the Americans Gringos."

Green Grow the Rushes Oh

Music and lyrics traditional

I'll sing you one-o
Green grow the rushes-o
What is your one-o?
One is one and all alone
And ever more shall be so.

I'll sing you two-o
Green grow the rushes-o
What is your two-o?
Two two the lily-white boys
Clothed all in green-o,
One is one and all alone
And ever more shall be so.

I'll sing you three-o
Green grow the rushes-o
What is your three-o?
Three-e-e three-e-e The ri-i-i-ivals,
Two two the lily-white boys
Clothed all in green-o,
One is one and all alone
And ever more shall be so.

I'll sing you four-o ...
... four for the Gospel makers, ...
... five for the symbols at your door, ...
... six for the six proud walkers, ...
... seven for the seven stars in the sky, ...
... eight for the April rainers, ...
... nine for the nine bright shiners, ...
... ten for the Ten Commandments, ...
... eleven for the eleven that went to heaven, ...
... twelve for the twelve Apostles, ...

Green Grow the Rushes Oh

by Robert Burns

There's no but care on every hand
In every hour that passes oh
That signifies the life of man
and twere not for the lassies oh

-Chorus-

Green grow the rushes oh
Green grow the rushes oh
The sweetest hours that e're I spent
Were spent among the lassies oh

The wordly race may riches chase
And riches still may fly them oh
And when at last they catch them fast
Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them oh

-Chorus-

Give me a quiet hour at e'en
My arms around my dearie oh
And warly cares and warly men
May a gae topsy-turvy oh

-Chorus-

For you so grave you sneer at this
You're no but senseless asses oh
The wisest man the world e'er saw
Dearly loved the lassies oh

-Chorus-

Green Grow the Lilacs

I heard the gringo story as being about the U.S.-Mexican war of 1845. Whether the song is really the origin of the term gringo has never been established; neither proven nor disproven. Linguists do sneer about it being folk etymology, however. And the song involved in the version I heard was Green Grow the Lilacs. —jsq

1: Music and lyrics traditional

Green grow the lilacs, all sparkling with dew
I'm lonely, my darling, since parting with you;
But by our next meeting I'll hope to prove true
And change the green lilacs to the Red, White and Blue.

Green grow the lilacs reminding me of
The ones that I brought you with all of my love,
The gates of my country will open for you
And change the green lilacs to the Red, White and Blue.

Green grow the lilacs, Your favorite flow'r,
So sweetly perfuming - a sad parting hour.
Oh send me a message - That you love me too,
Let's change the green lilacs to the Red, White and Blue.

Repeat first verse.

2: Music and lyrics traditional

Green grow the lilacs, all sparkling with dew
I'm lonely, my darling, since parting with you;
But by our next meeting I'll hope to prove true
And change the green lilacs to the Red, White and Blue.

I once had a sweetheart, but now I have none
She's gone and she's left me, I care not for one
Since she's gone and left me, contented I'll be,
For she loves another one better than me.

I passed my love's window, both early and late
The look that she gave me, it makes my heart ache;
Oh, the look that she gave me was painful to see,
For she loves another one better than me.

I wrote my love letters in rosy red lines,
She sent me an answer all twisted and twined;
Saying,"Keep your love letters and I will keep mine
Just you write to your love and I'll write to mine."

Last changed: 00/01/22 14:31:41