Tommy James and the Shondells – Crimson & Clover
Inspiration Behind Crimson and Clover:
Tommy James woke up one morning thinking about his favorite color and flower. Upon combining crimson with clover, Tommy used poetry to blend these 2 elements together. Crimson and Clover contain themes of love and passion, fueled by deep emotions and natural beauty. While the remake of Crimson and Clover by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in 1982 received more attention in the music world, Tommy James and the Shondells crafted this song.
Biblical Application:
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” – Isaiah 40:7-8
Exegesis of Crimson and Clover:
Ah, now I don’t hardly know her
But I think I can love her
Crimson and clover
The poetry portion of this song kept the lyrics to 4 stanzas. However, the actual song repeats these stanzas several times. From afar, Crimson and Clover are compared to a woman. The more you stare, there is a belief that you can love this woman.
Ah, now when she comes walkin’ over
Now I’ve been waitin’ to show her
Crimson and clover
Over and over
As this woman approaches, you have been waiting to show her something, a red flower and some clovers.
Yeah, if I’m not such a sweet thing
I wanna do everything
What a beautiful feelin’
Crimson and clover
Over and over
This man reveals his flaw but is eager to do whatever it takes to impress her. Perhaps there is a sexual innuendo behind crimson and clover.
Crimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and ove
Either this is simply Tommy jamming to his favorite color and flower or the over and over has some sort of infatuation built into the lyrics. The more you gaze upon this natural beauty or a specific woman, the greater your attraction becomes.
Final Thoughts:
As someone who went to college to study golf course design and maintenance, I am big into flowers and fauna. As I build a 9-hole disc golf course on my property, I love adding elements of ornamental grasses, shrubs and wildflowers. Although this property is void of crimson at the present, when the flowers start to blossom this spring, there will be some crimson and random patches of clover to pop up. To me Crimson and Clover are part of this color spectrum, brightening up landscapes across the country.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 