Lavender's Blue

By Walter Crane

Ballad
1.     Lavender's blue, diddle, diddle!     Lavender's green;     When I am king, diddle, diddle!     You shall be queen. 2.     Call up your men, diddle, diddle!     Set them to work;     Some to the plough, diddle, diddle!     Some to the cart. 3.     Some to make hay, diddle, diddle!     Some to cut corn;     While you and I, diddle, diddle!     Keep ourselves warm.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This is a playful yet intriguing poem that explores themes of love, power, and work. It's comprised of three quatrains, each with a consistent AABA rhyme scheme. The poet brings a sense of rhythm and whimsy to the piece using the repeated phrase "diddle, diddle!" This repetition not only serves to create a light-hearted tone but also emphasizes the speaker's focus on the future, which is presented as both a dream and a plan.

The first stanza introduces a pastoral vision of love, with the colors of lavender symbolizing serenity, purity, and devotion. The speaker's declaration of becoming a king with their loved one as a queen paints an image of shared power and mutual affection. The following two stanzas extend this vision to the realm of work and necessities of life. The speaker encourages their loved one to call up their men and assign them tasks, while they, as a couple, keep themselves warm, perhaps suggesting a sense of comfort and contentment in their shared life. This imaginative division of labor reveals the speaker's idealized concept of a harmonious society, where everyone has a role, and the rulers are not detached but are part of the warmth of the community. It's an optimistic, idyllic vision, subtly questioning traditional power structures and roles, delivered with a light touch and a dash of charm.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.