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When I Grow To Be A Lady

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I was rocking my baby girl to sleep before I wrote this. And suddenly my thoughts were about my old man. My sister and I would always hear him sing a song. I just remember this line  “When you grow to be a lady, you’ll be a queen, a lovely queen. Walking…” That is the only line that was stuck in my head.  I knew he sang that to me when I was a baby and he would always tell me about it while I was growing up.

At this particular moment of my life, that song became very special. I tried to look it up online. I searched in YouTube but nothing came up. I googled it and the search result was very limited. I could neither find the singer nor the song writer. At least I found the lyrics.

When I grow to be a Lady…
I’ll be a queen, a lovely queen
Walking in a garden shady…
In gown of green
with silver sheen
maids in gowns and gold shall follow me
And suitors of a high degree

When I grow to be a lady…
A fine and lovely queenly lady
Then my Prince will come to claim his own
And love will crown me to my throne.

It is very heart warming to know for the first time what the song is all about. And I can clearly hear his voice singing it.

dad and daughterhttps://www.pinterest.com/angelinajustice/silhouette-art/

87 thoughts on “When I Grow To Be A Lady”

      • I am male
        i wonder why my teacher back then would teach as song and ask us to sing it individually.
        Now i also understand it is a song with beautiful tone to teach us read notes.

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      • Thanks Mike for the input. You are right, maybe they used the song to teach you to read notes? Maybe that was how my Dad knew the song and when he was singing to us, he changed the lyrics to “When you grow to be a lady, you’ll be a queen, a lovely queen…”

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  2. It’s a filippino song that has gone out of mind. Well there you are! It’s copy write free so you cold make a record of it and put it on youtube. Or look at this link to a website of old filippino songs by putting in the site search box the title. It gave me one with music when I did it. Unfortunately the songs ad in Filippino language that I don’t understand. http://www.listube.com/#connect=rry

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    • I opened the link you gave and confirmed that the song my dad used to sing to us is an old Filipino song usually played during coronation of beauties. In the older times, it was a tradition and I guess up to now that they hold beauty pageants in towns. And probably this is one song they played. Thank you. I learned something valuable….

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    • It is a song we sang in elementary. It actually goes like this: When I grow to be a lady, I’ll be a queen, a lovely queen” It was actually written for a girl to sing.

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      • So this is an original Filipino song? Would you know what year did the song start? My Dad was born in 1933 and he knew this song. There is just nothing to be found on the web about this. I am assuming it is a very old song. Thank you for the information you shared! Really appreciate it!

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      • Omg. I just remembered my aunt singing me this song whenni was young. I can remember the lyrics so i searched it and found youe article. At my age right now, i realized how special this song is to me. Brings back my childhood dreams.

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      • Same here! I never really paid attention until my Dad passed away and I miss him everyday. I wish I asked him where he learned the song or I could have learned to sing or play it. I appreciate this comment. I have learned that it is not just you and me looking for this song on the web. And that this song means something to us. God bless you!

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  4. I know the tune of this song but sad to say am not good in singing. I love this song. I used to sing this with my siblings during our younger days. . . I have also been looking for this on youtube but to no avail.

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    • OMG you used to sing this song? Where did you learn it? It kept me thinking. Our dad used to sing this to us. Is it a Filipino song? Sadly I did not find any online. I wish at least there’s a music sheet so I can play it?! Thanks Lisa. Glad to know this!

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      • I learned this in grade school in our music class early 80’s. There is music book for this song…another song is “I was poorly born on the top of a mountain”

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      • Thank you for this information. I am so glad that there is at least a confirmation. Hoping we will find a music sheet for this so we can play it? Like what you have found out, there is not much about it on the web. Maybe somebody knows more about this. Keep our fingers crossed : )

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  5. My mom also used to sing me this song. I don’t know where she learned it. I can still remember the tune of the first stanza. And I’m singing it now.

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  6. My mom used to sing me this song. I don’t know where she learned it. I can still remember the tune of the first stanza. And I’m singing it now.

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    • There’s nothing much about it in social media. I am so glad that people message me about it. I wonder if this is an original Filipino song, who composed it and when. Thank you for your comment!

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  9. I used to sing this song in our elementary school’s closing program. I was my teachers favorite back then. She gave me the role of a princess who sang this song she even made a green gown for me. Ohh the memories!

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    • I didn’t realize that this song is pretty popular! You’re right! I wish too that there is more information about this like in YouTube or Google. For me it is just a memory of my Dad singing to us. Thank you for stopping by Dhea!

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    • This is a good idea! Whoever has a recorded copy of the song, please share it. Or if you know the song, please record and share. I can only remember the first few lines. Maybe I’ll see if I can sing and play it on a guitar based on how I remember my Dad sang it? I’ll keep you all posted. Thanks Eli john.

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  12. Know what my grandpa thought be this song when I was 5 and sang it in a competition (my voice was quite different then since I was only 5 at the time haha) anyways we practiced everyday, he has a very fine voice, at the day of the completion he had a stroke and couldn’t be there, the neighbor has to take me . He already passed away 18 years ago and I still can hear his voice inside my head singing this song to me. Like you I only remember a part of the song and had been searching for the full lyrics, thanks for posting..(P.S he survived the stroke that day and lived for another 13 years)

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    • Hello Kayne! I know what you mean! I could not find anything online! And it is sad that I only know a part of it. I am planning to play it on my flute and share it with you guys here. I’m hoping someone who knows the entire song will share it with us. I love what you said here “I still can hear his voice inside my head singing this song to me” This song will forever remind us of these men we love. Thanks for stopping by.

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  13. I am pretty old now of 56 . Im Eleno L. Mesagrande, I’ve been spending several attempt at any web site just to trace any record in it , yet stll i didn’t find anyhow. T’was a grade schooler in Bohol at late 69 up to 1974 when i used to recite this song on our morning program and really missed it very deligently. How i wish i could find a record to file in m y rhyme.

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    • Hello Eleno! Thank you for reaching out here. Yes my Dad should have been 85 now. Based on the feedback I am getting, this song is an old Filipino song that is usually sang in schools or in beauty pageant contests in the Plaza. I only know the tune of the first verse. I will probably try to play it on flute and share it all with you. But I am sure I am not a 100% sure if my notes will be accurate. Or maybe someone out there still knows this song? I wish they can share it with us.

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  14. Hello everyone, I started to google this song because my Mom, who is 94 today started singing this again. I remember her singing this to us 3 kids to put us to sleep. I have not heard this song for at least 55 years. I am 65 years old and clearly remember this song. I will ask my Mom if she remembers who wrote and sang this song. She had a very nice voice during her younger years. I will keep you guys posted.

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  15. My daughter is celebrating her debutante party this October, we plan to use this song as the main one in the whole event. Please, please kindly let us know the title and where we can find this music? Thank you very much. From an anxious dad!

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    • Hello Dennis! I am 7 months late since you posted this message. I am truly sorry for not getting back at you. I was inactive for a while but I got my inspiration back. I hope your daughter’s party was amazing. Wondering what music you ended up using? As of now, I received 2 recorded music of this song. I am going to find out how to share it here though. I’ll keep you posted. God bless!

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      • Hi Khris! I’m currently trying to find any traces or recordings of this song as well! Seeing that you said you have received 2 recordings of this song already, would you be able to send them to me? If you can, I would really appreciate it! You can reach me at maraporm@yahoo.com

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  16. Hello Khris, I just Finished recording the tune ( when I grow to be a lady). it is especially for you. just like you, I often felt nostalgic about the past. this song resides in my head for a long time and I also don’t know the Title of this song, but I remember the tune. how will I send it to you?

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    • Oh wow! Sorry for the late reply. I wasn’t active for a while. There was someone who recorded that music too and I would love to upload it here for everyone to hear. I am just trying to figure out how. Anyone who knows??? You can send it to me at khristinegiron@gmail.com Thank you so much! I hope I can find a way to share the music to this post (if that’s alright with you). Or if you have Youtube, you can probably upload there and I’ll post the links here. I’ll figure it out. Thank you!!!

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      • It brings back memories of yesteryear. I fondly remember the song during our music class in grade school. It is a song for young growing girls, which we, as young boys in our class enjoyed listening too. A reminiscent of our younger days.

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    • Hi! Please read my latest comment below! We found the song! Ramon, I believe I sent my email to you. But thank you for recording it! You should share it on Youtube so we have a lot of resources.

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  17. I worked in the childcare and I remembered this song when I was a little girl where my father used to sing for us. So I sing to the girls in the pre-schoolers and they just look at me as this song is new to them.

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    • How old is your Dad Llane? Yes my Dad used to sing this song when I was a little girl. So I could just remember a few lines and the tune. If you check others’ inputs here you might know more about the song. Thanks for stopping by! : )

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  18. Pls. let me know of your nationality. In my early times it seems the title is A girl’s Dream or a Ladies Dream. The book we used to have is an American composition during their occupation in the Philippines. I’ll try to communicate with my mates on the 70’s later.

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    • Oh wow! It is amazing to know this! Most of us would only remember some parts of the lyrics, a stanza, the tune. Reading comments from everyone truly helps in understanding/knowing about this special song. Thank you!!!

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  20. Khris I am here in Canada I have been looking for this song. I know exactly the tune but I only remember the first stanza. My father taught me the song when I was 10 years old we were walking home from my grandmother’s house because I was young I easily remember the lyrics and melody. I did not hear that in my grade school music class. I am now 70 years old. Thanks to all who contribute for the lyrics of this song it is so special to me because of my father.

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    • Hello Leonora! I had the same feeling. I searched online for this song but there was nothing. And I feel so happy to hear from different people talking about their memories of this special song. We all share beautiful memories of this song with our loved ones. Thank you so much for sharing your experience as well!

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  21. We were taught in elementary school to sing this song 🙂 i love this song and always give me a feel good mood. btw I’m 64 years old, we sang this when I was 10 years old

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    • Thanks Marikit! My dad was 80+ After I published this article, I confirmed that this song was sung in the Philippines, usually in elementary schools. Thanks for your input! I really appreciate it.

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  22. Right here is the perfect web site for anybody who would
    like to understand this topic. You know so much its almost tough to argue with you (not that I personally will need to…HaHa).
    You definitely put a brand new spin on a topic which has been discussed for ages.
    Excellent stuff, just excellent!

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  23. I thought of this song this morning and looked for it on YouTube. I didn’t find it. I learned it during my elementary grades in the Philippines. I found the lyrics in your blog. Will have some corrections. I sing in the choir and will have someone play the piano and guitar to accompany me. I am 67 years old now and will teach my granddaughter the song. It is beautiful. Send me an email and I will send the song to you as soon as we record it. God bless.

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  24. Hello!!! After so many years, I am able to find a person who helped me play the music. Please read the full description on the Youtube post. I am happy to share with you this music that we were all looking for!!! Hope everyone is staying safe. Take care! Please subscribe to my Youtube channel and to Mr. Lagman’s channel (the arranger and pianist who helped me).

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