Brian Samms, Mar 6, 2011
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series about the Gospel song "Give Me My Flowers" and the African American originated saying "Give them their flowers (while they are living). This saying is also given as "Give her (or him) her (or his) flowers (while she [or he] is living".
This post showcases a song file of James Cleveland's rendition of the Gospel song "Give Me My Flowers" and presents a small number of comments about that saying from various internet sources. This post documents that the African American originated saying "Give me my flowers" or "Give them their flowers" is known and used in other nations besides the United States.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-gospel-song-give-me-my-flowers-and.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post includes a sound file of that song by The Consolers, information about that Gospel duo, information about that song, and lyrics for that song.
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
Thanks to James Cleveland for his musical legacy and thanks to Sullivan Pugh from The Consolers for composing this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this sound file on YouTube.
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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM YOUTUBE DISCUSSION THREADS ABOUT THE SAYING "GIVE ME MY FLOWERS" OR "GIVE THEM THEIR FLOWERS"
These internet sources are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
ONLINE SOURCE #1
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p91x-W3zsQo Rev. James Cleveland-Give Me My Flowers, posted by Brian Samms, Mar 6, 2011
"What an AMAZING song! This song says it ALL. We should
cherish our loved ones and NEVER take em for granted. Here on minute and gone
in a twinkle of an eye. Give em their
flowers yet while in the land of the living!!!!!!!!!"
**
2. @jjohnson1121,2020
"I think this song is SUPER Sad.. However, my Grandma would
always....say Give Me my flowers while I'm still ALIVE! I would always hear her
say say give them to ke Now So I can Enjoy Them! It's Her Birthday today as
well as tomorrow. During My GMA TIMES she was not sure if it was the 14th or
15th so we always celebrated Everyday! She was a Praying, God FEARING, Very
Stearn & Hard Working Woman. I Love Her SOO Much & She Will always Be
my Best Friend. WE Prayed together, laughed together & I wish I could call
& laugh with hernia but I'm Not Going to be Selfish with all this Chaos
Going On She's Definitely Rejoicing in Heaven. That's why Every time I saw her
I would make sure to find a Beautiful Bouquet or something to give My GMA..."
**
3. @lucillemayweather2223,2023
"yes give me my
flowers as I live and my family all way
give me flowers I am sending this
flowers to everyone who reads this
message I no Rev James got his flowers
to God be the glory thanks you" ️
****
ONLINE SOURCE #2
from https://www.boundless.org/relationships/give-me-my-flowers-while-im-living/ "Give Me My Flowers While I’m Living", Thabiti Anyabwile, May 17, 2007
"Tell your loved ones how you feel. Now.
That’s what my mother often says when she attends a funeral
and hears all the nice things people say, or witnesses the deep grief of
persons who perhaps have loved deeply but not expressed it in various ways.
With a resolution born of knowing, she announces in a calm tone, almost to
herself and to no one in particular, “Give me my flowers while I’m living.”
Over the years, it’s become for me a lesson in expressing gratitude. I can see the rows of flowers and arrangements adorning the pulpit area and casket at funerals — wonderful colors, arrangements of various sizes, sometimes with ribbons bearing various sentiments. Then my mother’s voice, “Give me my flowers while I’m living.” “….
****
ONLINE SOURCE #3
From https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Emmys2022cKenzieJean-Philippe
"@McKenzie_JP
10:27 PM Sept . 12, 2022
So many beautiful, deserving Black women getting their
flowers tonight. I could cry #Emmys #Emmys2022
-snip-
The Black women that this commenter referred to are Zendaya, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lizzo, and Quinta Brunson.
****
ONLINE SOURCE #4
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut3lDyGoqVU "Sho Madjozi - Chale (Official Music Video)", Sho Madjozi, Feb 3, 2023
@yibanathi.n03, 2023
"Somebody give Tboy deflame his flowers. This is a HIT! 💛💛💛"
-snip-
Tboy is a DJ from the nation of South Africa. Here's some information from https://ra.co/dj/t-boy
" With a career that spans over 10 years and both hemispheres, T-Boy has DJed at some of the most famous and well respected club nights in the World."...
****
ONLINE SOURCE #5
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=421w1j87fEM "Burna Boy-Last Last [Official Music Video]", Burna Boy, May 12, 2022
Shelton Hickmon, 2022
"This goooo Burna giving our flowers 💐
to Ms. Toni Braxton 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾"
****
ONLINE SOURCE #6
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_hKXk2qSuw "Toni Braxton - He Wasn't Man Enough (Official Video)", Toni Braxton, October 25, 2009
Ms. Philadelphia, 2023
"I always bumped this back in the day. I love the sample of
Burna Boy last last of this song. I play it everyday…. Toni Braxton getting her
flowers while she’s still here to take it all in…..They’re both great artist ❤️❤️🔥🔥🇺🇸"
****
ONLINE SOURCE #7
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LCoksSQMzs "Fuse ODG - Antenna Ft. Wyclef Jean (Official Video)", OffDaGroundTV, Dec
16, 2012 #TINA
@emmanuelquaye5001, 2023
"Give this man his flowers for me!"
-snip-
Fuse ODG is a Ghanaian/ United Kingdom singer, songwriter, and rapper who is credited with being the first or among the first African performing artists to introduce the Afrobeats music genre and Azonto dance throughout the world.
****
ONLINE SOURCE #8
from https://www.invubu.com/music/show/song/The-Consolers/Give-Me-My-Flowers.html, September 2022
"My Aunt Estela would sing this at church with so much
feelings waving a bouquet of flowers to someone special."
ONLINE SOURCE #9
From
@WrittenByTerry
1:28 PM Jul 16, 2022
"Keke Palmer is one of the most talented people in the world.
She can do drama, comedy, horror, you name it. Her résumé is unparalleled. I’m
so happy to see her getting her flowers 💐"
ONLINE SOURCE #10
From
"Three years ago, my family hosted a 100th birthday
celebration for my grandmother at one of the fancier restaurants in my small
town.
[…]
Afterwards, an older cousin raved at the great time she had
and also commented that she wished that she could know now what everyone would
say about her at her funeral. She said we gave our Nana that opportunity
because we gave her “her flowers while she is still here to enjoy them.”
At the time, I shared this comment with my Facebook friends as a status update. Yesterday, I was reminded about the comment when it came up as a Facebook memory. I’m thankful that it did because it reinforced for me that I need to make sure I’m putting forth my greatest effort in giving my loved ones their flowers while they are still here. This means letting them know that they have added so much value to my life just by being in it; that they are irreplaceable; that I have learned from the lessons they have taught; that I admire them; that I feel so immensely blessed to call them family or friend.”…
****
ONLINE SOURCE #11
From https://mugibson.medium.com/the-power-there-is-in-expression-and-why-you-should-give-your-people-their-flowers-while-they-can-40a7bab823bb
The power there is in expression and why you should give your people their
flowers while they can still smell them
Mugibson, Oct 21, 2020
[…]
Unlike the literal meaning of buying physical flowers and
handing them to loved ones, but rather the kind words that people had to say
about her and to her, giving people their flowers while they can still smell
simply means giving them those “flowers” when it still matters. Flowers here is
a metaphor for words, actions or basically making them see and/or feel. If you
have something to say to someone, that’s making you feel unsettled, say it. But
say it to them in time.
Give roses to the living, while they can still collect them.”
****
ONLINE SOURCE #12
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okfR_VIbXEQ "Muni Long - Hrs & Hrs", Muni Long, Nov 22, 2021
1. jake, 2022
"I’ve been following Muni for years (when she went by
Priscilla Renea) & I’m so glad she’s getting the recognition she deserves.
The way this song is blowing up!!! It makes me so happy. Go sis!!!"
**
Reply
2. Jasta, 2022
"She's co-written a ton of hits including VSOP by K Michelle,
California King Bed by Rihanna, Timber by Pitbull, Who Says by Selena Gomez,
Dont Wake Me Up by Chris Brown, Somethin' Bad by Miranda Lambert, Worth It by
Fifth Harmony, Popular Song by Mika and Ariana Grande, Love So Soft by Kelly
Clarkson, and Imagine by Ariana Grande. She's written pop hits, r&b hits,
country hits... Her range is insane and she deserves her flowers"
**
Reply
3. Taylor D, 2022
"Literally your whole comment is on google. People better
start doing research & give this Queen her flowers that’s been overdue! 🗣💯"
****
ONLINE SOURCE #13
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vOwxTqeRkY&ab_channel=ReeceMadlisa%26Zuma "Reece Madlisa & Zuma - Iy'ntsimbi Zase Envy (Official
Music Video),Reece Madlisa & Zuma | Ama Roto, December 3, 2021
[Pancocojams Editor's Note: The men who are mentioned in these comments are associated with South Africa's Amapiano music genre.]
1. Minenhle Masuku, 2022
"Let’s give amaroto their flowers while they are alive😭🔥These
boys are the future 😩😭❤️"
2,
"They deserve those flowers indeed🔥🔥🔥they
r going far as artists"
3.
"Can someone give Zuma his flowers plz💐💐this
guy is a blessing to the amapiano industry,he has changed the game completely🔥🔥🔥🔥i
can't imagine this industry without Zuma✊✊🔥🔥🔥🔥uMr
ahaaa beno nxamalala"
****
ONLINE SOURCE #14
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wS1-RViqeQ "Kizz
Daniel - Buga (Official Dance Video)", June 2, 2022
[Pancocojams Editor's Note- This is a video from Nigeria.]
1. Deborah Akello, 2022
"Nigerians!!! okay Africans!!! where y'all?? Come
give this our brothers and sisters their flowers 🌹🌹🌹they have earned them so very well💃💃."
**
2. Uncle London, 2023
"Cameroon is in the building 🇨🇲🇨🇲🇨🇲🇨🇲
give Kizz Daniel his flowers 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"
****
ONLINE SOURCE #15
from https://living267.com/2018/09/05/give-me-my-flowers-while-im-living/ Give Me My Flowers While I’m Living, Jessica M, September 5, 2018
…."All the time I would hear my grandmother and others say
“Give me my flowers while I’m living” or “Give me my flowers while I can still
smell them.” I think it’s funny now that I took that saying literal a few years
ago. I went so far that I began buying my mom and grandmother flowers for most
holidays to make sure I gave them their “flowers” while they are still living.
What I truly missed was they weren’t talking about actual flowers at all.
To truly give your loved ones “flowers” while they are still living looks like telling them how much you love them every day, spending time with them, making sure they know that they are loved, telling them the good things about themselves”….
****
This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
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