It’s a somber day in the USA with the remembrance of fallen soldiers in all the wars we have fought. I found the wall of flowers at the Bund Promenade in Shanghai, and I am posting the words to the folk song “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” (1961). The first three verses were written by Pete Seeger in 1955 and the rest was added by Joe Hickerson in May 1960.
No political statement intended with the song, it’s just such a beautiful sad song that also says to me that what was lost once may come back to us in another form.
Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls picked them, ev’ry one.
When will they ever learn? Oh, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone to the young men, ev’ry one.
When will they ever learn? Oh, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the young men gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young men gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers, ev’ry one.
When will they ever learn? Oh, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, ev’ry one.
When will they ever learn? Oh, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers, ev’ry one.
When will they ever learn? Oh, when will they ever learn?