Lilacs Bloomed Every Spring, Just like before… I loved that eerie song about the Soldier Boy by John Rutter. We sang it in our SATB choir in either Highschool or Junior High. I’ll type the full lyrics if I can remember them. But more than the song I like Lilacs! Here are seven pictures, including my favorite: the six-fingered mutant lilac!
Update: For anyone who found this page googling for the song Soldier Boy, I found a lovely recording of it here. And here is a sample of the recording — certainly the best I’ve come across!
I really don’t remember all the lyrics. Just the lilacs and the seven (really fourteen) years this poor maiden waited for her soldier tend to stick in my mind. And the fact that he seemed so enchanted by the war with its mighty cannons and golden bugles. And his fine coat for that matter. It gave me the chills.
If you’re interested you can google this much of the words and find the rest I’m sure. Taking out the parts that repeat for the sake of the melody:
“Soldier Boy…
Where are you going to in your coat so fine?
“I am riding off to war where the mighty cannons roar;
where the golden bugel shines…
Oh, Lady Fair, be mine.
“Soldier Boy…
When will you come again in your coat so fine?
“When the leaves a green again; when the lilacs bloom again;
When there is an end to war
Then I will come once more.”
“Seven Times and seven more,
leaves turned to green again
Lilacs bloomed every spring,
just like before
But there was no end to war… ”
(I forget the lyrics here – probably because the boys sang this part. Poor little highschool tenors. Someday I’d like to try choir again to see what it’s like to sing with men, but I’ll need to work on my voice first)
“Still she waited just the same,
but no one ever came.”
Plenty of spooky ooooo-ing follows. I’m not making fun though. The song really is spooky. All the brilliance and hope of youth – twice over lost to fighting. How many thousands of times do you suppose has this happened in the history of our world? And how many times more will it happen?
More lilac snaps:
This little mutant lilac flower has six petals instead of the typical four or rare five. Yes, I embrace my nerd-dom, but I know you all love me just the same or you wouldn’t be here. This blossom is the one that inspired me to take these pictures in the first place- I’d never seen anything but a double-blossomed lilac have more than four petals. Then I noticed quite a few on this odd tree had five. But six. I still think that’s special.
Legend of Velda 
I sang the song in high school I graduated in 94′. It ia funny cause I was looking for the song and ran across you sight. I sang it Stetson University in honors choir, A capella. It was a gorgeous soung in the 100+ year old building. When we finished the audience of 800+ people were absoluty silent. I even saw some tears. It was breath taking. THe beauty of the song and the true sad longing feeling and waiting love that was never going to see an end…. was amazing!!! I have to honestly say, that was one moment in my life where music touched my soul!! Feelings like that are heaven sent, it was amazing. By the way, I attended Seabreeze High in Daytona Beach, FL.
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I sang the song in high school I graduated in 94′. It ia funny cause I was looking for the song and ran across you sight. I sang it Stetson University in honors choir, A capella. It was a gorgeous soung in the 100+ year old building. When we finished the audience of 800+ people were absoluty silent. I even saw some tears. It was breath taking. THe beauty of the song and the true sad longing feeling and waiting love that was never going to see an end…. was amazing!!! I have to honestly say, that was one moment in my life where music touched my soul!! Feelings like that are heaven sent, it was amazing. By the way, I attended Seabreeze High in Daytona Beach, FL.
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The missing line is “But there was no end to war. Seven years then seven more.”
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Thank you!
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Oh And the song is by John Rutter!
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Oh And the song is by John Rutter!
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Called "Soldier Boy".
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Called "Soldier Boy".
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Thanks Dwight! Good to know the song was popular across the states. I sang it in highschool too here in Utah — probably in ’94 or ’95. I love it.
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Thanks Dwight! Good to know the song was popular across the states. I sang it in highschool too here in Utah — probably in ’94 or ’95. I love it.
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Do you know where I can get a copy of it sung by a choir?
Dwight Shropshire
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Do you know where I can get a copy of it sung by a choir?
Dwight Shropshire
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Hey there – I’d replied via email a while ago but for anyone who’s wondering, I was not able to find a recording of it. So if anyone runs across one, please let me know! Or if you have the music and want to send some, I might be able to rally together a couple people who’d be willing to sing and record it.
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Hey there – I’d replied via email a while ago but for anyone who’s wondering, I was not able to find a recording of it. So if anyone runs across one, please let me know! Or if you have the music and want to send some, I might be able to rally together a couple people who’d be willing to sing and record it.
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I have the music if you wish to have it. I can scan it and send it to you if you wish :).
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I have the music if you wish to have it. I can scan it and send it to you if you wish :).
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The lyrics of it are as follows;
Women:
Soldier Boy, Soldier boy, where are you going to?
Soldier boy, Soldier boy, in your coat so fine?
Men:
I am riding off to war, where the mighty cannons roar
Where the golden bugles shine, oh Lady Fair be mine
Women:
Soldier boy, Soldier boy, when will you come again?
Soldier boy, Soldier boy, in your coat so fine?
Men:
When the grass is green again, when the lilacs bloom again
When there is an end to War, then I shall come once more
Together:
Seven times, then seven more,
leaves turned to green again.
Lilacs bloomed every spring, just like before
But still there was no end to war
Seven years, then seven more,
but still she waited just the same
But no one ever came
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The lyrics of it are as follows;
Women:
Soldier Boy, Soldier boy, where are you going to?
Soldier boy, Soldier boy, in your coat so fine?
Men:
I am riding off to war, where the mighty cannons roar
Where the golden bugles shine, oh Lady Fair be mine
Women:
Soldier boy, Soldier boy, when will you come again?
Soldier boy, Soldier boy, in your coat so fine?
Men:
When the grass is green again, when the lilacs bloom again
When there is an end to War, then I shall come once more
Together:
Seven times, then seven more,
leaves turned to green again.
Lilacs bloomed every spring, just like before
But still there was no end to war
Seven years, then seven more,
but still she waited just the same
But no one ever came
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It is later than you think.
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Hey Velda Dwight here again. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I found a link to a choir singing Soldier Boy. It will give people an idea of what it sounds like. Keep in mind this is not a terrific example, Sopranos are a little whiny and over powering and the song is somewhat rushed. My Chorus did it A Capella. It was gorgeous. You know it was good when the crowd is silent a few seconds after the sound has dissipated. It was true music. But anyway here is the link :). I have the sheet music and can sing the parts and combine them. Hope to hear from you soon! *** Be sure to copy the link below to hear the chorus sing it. Dwight
http://www.musiceducationwo…
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Hey Velda Dwight here again. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I found a link to a choir singing Soldier Boy. It will give people an idea of what it sounds like. Keep in mind this is not a terrific example, Sopranos are a little whiny and over powering and the song is somewhat rushed. My Chorus did it A Capella. It was gorgeous. You know it was good when the crowd is silent a few seconds after the sound has dissipated. It was true music. But anyway here is the link :). I have the sheet music and can sing the parts and combine them. Hope to hear from you soon! *** Be sure to copy the link below to hear the chorus sing it. Dwight
http://www.musiceducationwo…
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hey, just this past friday my choir and some other choirs came together and sang it for our parents and church members. It was AWESOME! It has been stuck in my head ever since. Beautiful music and the words are so sadening yet so soothing. All around great peice!
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I live in Indiana, and I’ve been out of High School for about 6 years now, and in my 2nd year of Choir, my class sang Soldier Boy. I absolutely loved the song and I am, as well, looking for a redording of it. However, I’ll keep looking as much as I can. If anyone has any info on it, please contact me at Maggotchild6@yahoo.com. Thank you.
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Good news~ I found a recording that should be beautiful: http://www.ivoci.org.au/music/CDs.html They didn’t have a sample of Soldier Boy, but the samples that did work from the CD sounded lovely.
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I live in Indiana, and I’ve been out of High School for about 6 years now, and in my 2nd year of Choir, my class sang Soldier Boy. I absolutely loved the song and I am, as well, looking for a redording of it. However, I’ll keep looking as much as I can. If anyone has any info on it, please contact me at Maggotchild6@yahoo.com. Thank you.
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Good news~ I found a recording that should be beautiful: http://www.ivoci.org.au/music/CDs.html They didn’t have a sample of Soldier Boy, but the samples that did work from the CD sounded lovely.
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Thanks for sharing the lyrics! I could only remember part of this song. I sang this in chorus in 2001 as a high school junior. It was the first song we worked on that year. By the second week of school it sounded really good. We had morning rehearsals, and I distinctly remember this song because it’s what we were singing on September 11th. After that day, the song was retired and we never sang it again. Kind of sad, because it’s a great song, but nobody wanted to dwell on war and death…
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Thanks for sharing the lyrics! I could only remember part of this song. I sang this in chorus in 2001 as a high school junior. It was the first song we worked on that year. By the second week of school it sounded really good. We had morning rehearsals, and I distinctly remember this song because it’s what we were singing on September 11th. After that day, the song was retired and we never sang it again. Kind of sad, because it’s a great song, but nobody wanted to dwell on war and death…
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This song bring me to this page. I Love this song. I sang it in a concert of my university choir in surabaya Indonesia at 1999. this song so sad but in other way show the power of love. acctually I try looking for mp3 of this song.
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Velda, I am so sorry I missed contact with you. I have been traveling A LOT!!! But in my search I have found a very nice recording/ performance of Soldier Boy. This Chorus actually did it some justice. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kEOksGSPPg Enjoy!
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Here is another link, they are a little rushed and soprano voice a little sharp edged. But have a listen and tell me what you think:
[audio src="http://www.musiceducationworld.com/files/3._soldier_boy_-Brighton_-Michael_Griffin.mp3" /]
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Velda, I am so sorry I missed contact with you. I have been traveling A LOT!!! But in my search I have found a very nice recording/ performance of Soldier Boy. This Chorus actually did it some justice. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kEOksGSPPg Enjoy!
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Here is another link, they are a little rushed and soprano voice a little sharp edged. But have a listen and tell me what you think:
http://www.musiceducationworld.com/files/3._soldi…
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Best recording ever is West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir on album “Songs of Earth, Echoes of Heaven”
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WCMCC is available on iTunes.
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Thanks Lyle, I’ll have to see if I can find it and give it a listen. I do love the recording I have, too.
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We sang this last year (my sophomore year) and we sounded amazing! But before we sang “7 times then 7 more” we read a letter from a soldier to his family and there was not a dry eye in the whole place. Just thought you’d like to hear that. Thanks for the post thingy. 🙂
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Wow — that sounds like it was awesome. And sad. I hope he’s home safely now.
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Boys part that you forgot “seven times then seven more”
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Thanks!
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Does any one know What war the song is about? Thanks
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