More Childhood Songs!

Sal commented on this morning’s post with a reminder of ‘Daisies are our silver’ – here are the full lyrics

Daisies are our silver, Buttercups our gold:
This is all the treasure we can have or hold.

Raindrops are our diamonds and the morning dew;
While for shining sapphires we've the speedwell blue.

These shall be our emeralds– Leaves so new and green;
Roses make the reddest rubies ever seen.

God, who gave these treasures to your children small,
Teach us how to love them and grow like them all.

Make us bright as silver: Make us good as gold;
Warm as summer roses , let our hearts unfold.

Gay as leaves in April, clear as drops of dew–
God, who made the speedwell, keep us true to you.

It was written by Jan Struther [pen-name of Joyce Anstruther] who also wrote the story “Mrs Miniver”  about a plucky British housewife in WW2 – played in the film by Greer Garson with a wonderful cut-glass accent. Jan also wrote another hymn popular in schools [known in our family as the ‘ for God and for Valerie’ hymn – see line 4]

When a knight won his spurs, in the stories of old,
He was gentle and brave, he was gallant and bold
With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand,
For God and for valour he rode through the land.
No charger have I, and no sword by my side,
Yet still to adventure and battle I ride,
Though back into storyland giants have fled,
And the knights are no more and the dragons are dead.
Let faith be my shield and let joy be my steed
'Gainst the dragons of anger, the ogres of greed;
And let me set free with the sword of my youth,
From the castle of darkness, the power of the truth.