Sweet Violets


"Sweet Violets" is an American song that contains classic example of a "censored rhyme", where the expected rhyme of each couplet is replaced with an unexpected word which segues into the next couplet or chorus. For example, the first couplets go:

There once was a farmer who took a young miss

In back of the barn where he gave her a...

Lecture on horses and chickens and eggs

And told her that she had such beautiful...

Manners that suited a girl


The chorus is taken nearly verbatim from the song "Sweet Violets" by Joseph Emmet, from his 1882 play Fritz Among the Gypsies:

Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses

Covered all over from head to toe

Covered all over with sweet violets.


The song was recorded by Dinah Shore with Henri René's Orchestra & Chorus in Hollywood on May 20, 1951. The song was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4174A, 47-4174A , by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10115 in the UK, and EA 3997 in Australia, also on the His Master's Voice label. The Dinah Shore version was arranged by Cy Coben and Charles Grean. It reached # 3 on the Billboard magazine charts. It has also been recorded by Mitch Miller and the Gang, Jane Turzy, and Judy Lynn. The song reached #1 on the Cash Box magazine best-seller chart.
Numerous folk versions exist in which the implied lyrics are more risqué.

Copyright

Copyright 1951 by Edwin H. Morris & Company, Inc.
by Cy Coben and Charles Grean