> Norma Waterson > Songs > My Flower, My Companion and Me

Faded Flowers / My Flower, My Companion and Me

[ Roud 16555 ; words J. H. Brown, music James Power (1851)]

Norma Waterson sang My Flower, My Companion and Me in 2000 as the title track of her third solo album Bright Shiny Morning. She noted:

From the wonderful Helen Schneyer. Helen has a fund of the most wonderful songs and this she sang to us in her house in the woods in Vermont with humming birds on the porch. One of those memories which cling.

The Spiers Family sang My Flower, My Companion in ca 2012 on their album Plenty Brass and a Bonny Lass. They noted:

One of the very few non-Scottish songs we sing, Maggie [Spiers] learned this from Helen Schneyer, who we were introduced to by our friend Norman Kennedy when visiting him in Vermont in 2002. She sang it while accompanying herself on piano, and just about had us in tears. She was kind enough to give us a copy of her CD, Somber, Sacred & Silly, which is one of our favourites.

Christina Alden sang My Flower, My Companion and Me in 2021 on her and Alex Patterson’s CD Hunter. They noted:

A beautiful traditional song about love and loss. We first heard this sung by Greg Russell, who learnt it from Jackie Oates, who learnt it from Norma Waterson who in turn learnt it from Helen Schneyer.

Lyrics

Norma Waterson sings My Flower, My Companion and Me

Oh the flowers that I loved in the wildwood
They have sent off their beautiful blooms
And the many dear friends of my childhood
Have slumbered for years in their tombs

Chorus (after each verse):
It’s no wonder I’m broken-hearted
Stricken with sorry to be
We have met, we have loved, we have parted
Oh my flower, my companion and me

Oh the rose that I loved I remember
And the smile that I never more shall see
Since the cold bitter winds of December
Stole my flower, my companion from me

Ah but think of that bright shiny morning
When our spirits from earth shall be free
And we meet those we’ve loved in that dawning
Oh my flower, my companion and me

We have met, we have loved, we have parted
Oh my flower, my companion and me

The Spiers Family sing My Flower, My Companion

All the flowers I loved in the wildwood
Have sent up their beautiful bloom
And the many dear friends of my childhood
Have slumbered for years in the tomb

Chorus (after each verse):
And it’s no wonder I’m broken hearted
And stricken with sorrow must be
We have met, we have loved, we have parted
My flower, my companion and me

And the rose that I love I remember
And the smiles I nevermore shall see
Since that cold, bitter winds of December
Stole my flower, my companion from me

When I think on that bright, shining morning
And our spirits from earth shall be free
And we meet those we love in that dawning
Oh, my flower, my companion and me

Acknowledgements

Transcription by Garry Gillard.