Composed by Haydn Wood (1882-1959) in 1916 for an audience above all British, the song Roses of Picardy had at once a striking down success, at the point to become popular in France since 1918.

A legend, tough although charming, wants that this song was written in Picardy during the First World War by an English officer in love with a widow of French war. It of it is nothing: its author, Frederick Edward Weatherly (1848-1929), lawyer and poet English, then ran the Law courts in the South-west of England and attended the offices of the editors of music.

In a few months, success is striking down: John Mc Cormack, Mario Lanza, Mado Robin, Mathé Altéry, Fernandel, Jacques Lantier, Tino Rossi, Ray Ventura, Ernst Pike, Sidney Bechet, Frank Sinatra, The Platters, Yves Montand… more than 300 artists interpreted it in the whole world. The song crossed the modes.

The Roses of Picardy are become again popular in France with the exit of the fatal Summer with Isabelle Adjani.

External bonds

• Haydn Wood
• The Pink off Picardy