“I’m looking over a four-leaf clover
That I overlooked before.First is the sunshine, the second is rain
Third is the roses that grow in the lane.
No need explaining, the one remaining
Is somebody I adore.I’m looking over a four-leaf clover
That I overlooked before”Early on in my marriage, my husband realized I couldn’t carry a tune. I also knew Harry and his siblings had great voices. We were with his sister and brother and their spouses when someone suggested we have a singing contest between spouses. Albeit I didn’t have a good voice, I went along with the idea. I felt my husband voice would override mine. Second, the one condition was the song had to be “I’m Looking over a Four-leaf Clover” as that was the only song I could recall.
Now why do some things stick in my mind like this childhood song? I think I know. When I walked the dirt lane to the school bus for my ride to the one-room school, I’d belt out songs like this that we learned in music class. Singing helped me not be so afraid as a child of 10-12 years old walking alone on a country road.
As a child, Mom, in order to keep us kids busy, would say, “Go out in the yard and see who can find a four-leaf clover.” I enjoyed finding four-leaf clovers and brought them inside and placed them inside a book.
Even as an adult, if I’m at some outside activity, and there is a large section of clovers, I’m still tempted to get down on my hands and knees and find a four-leaf clover. The thrill is still there, as it was today at a picnic I attended. Alas, I didn’t find a four-leaf clover, but it was enough to pique my interest in learning more about this lucky charm.
It was Harry Woods (1896-1970) who wrote the music and Marton Dixon *(1892-1956) who wrote the lyrics to “Four-leaf Clover.” The song was written in 1927, but didn’t become popular until 1948 when it was recorded by Art Mooney. Woods wrote several popular songs which earned his place in the Song Writers Hall of Fame. In spite of a deformed left hand, Woods mother, a singer, inspired him to learn to play a piano. During his stint in WWII, he started writing songs. After his discharge he became successful as a song writer.
Like me, Dixon must have enjoyed hunting 4-leaf clovers. It is estimated that the chances of finding a 4-leaf clover are 1 in 10,000. Some say they are rare to find because not many people look for them.
Four-leaf clovers are an uncommon variation of the 3-leaved shamrock (made famous by St. Patrick ). Actually, there are hundreds of varieties of clover. Today, there are plants being sold as the “good luck plant,” but are really clover look-alikes.
According to Christian legend, the 4-leaf clover goes back to biblical times when Eve is to have carried a 4-leaf clover when she was cast out of the Garden of Eden. Thus, anyone who finds a 4-leaf clover, will hold the blessings of Paradise.
Their importance today with the power to bestow good luck goes back to pre-Christianity. During the pagan period, Celt’s dominated Ireland and most of Western Europe. It was the Druids (Celtic priests) who elevated the 4-leaf clover as a good luck charm to ward off malevolent spirits.
The few four-leaf clovers I collected as a youngster are nothing compared to those having world records.
Edward Martin Sr., a retired history teacher, from Alaska, received the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of 111,060 in 2007. He’s been collecting since 1999; in one single day he once found 1,000 4-leaf clovers.
Yet, in 1997, a George Kaminski, collecting since 1995, accumulated 160,000 outdoing the previous Guinness World Record. As a prisoner, he found his 4-leaf clovers on the fields within various Pennsylvania prisons.
In 2010, another World Record for “finding the most 4-leaf clovers in the shortest time” sponsored by USA Laboratories, Inc., was won by 10 year old John Stokes of Tennessee. Within 20 minutes he found 3 four-leaf clovers while playing outside with his brother.
There are 4-leaf clover claims made every day, but not always verified by Guinness.
There are various uses of the four-leaf clover, as well as, people who carried them.
When viewed from above, the cloverleaf interchange resembles a 4-leaf clover.
In 1907, the 4-H organizations, boys’ and girls’ clubs, first used a 3-leaf clover as their emblem. By 1908 the 4-H organizations started using a 4-leaf clover for “head, heart, hands, and hustle.” It was officially adopted in 1911.
Many card games, such as Constitution, use the 4-leaf clover symbol. MostFunGames.com, you can find, in the FUN section, quite a challenge finding a 4-leaf clover in a field of clovers.
Although I haven’t been able to verify it, Abraham Lincoln, is to have carried a 4-leaf clover every day, except to Ford’s Theatre, the night he was assassinated.
It is also said that the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is to have escaped death by assassination when he stopped to pick up a 4-leaf clover.
In 1971 the Apollo 15 astronauts left mementoes on the moon, such as soccer and golf balls, a Bible, a family photo, and other items. And yes, the moon now is a proud owner of a 4-leaf clover placed there by James Irwin, Lunor Module pilot.
If you have an interest in 4-leaf clover accessories, you might want to check out Julia Roberts “Home of the Lucky Clovers.” After her husband’s retirement, the couple started a fashion accessory business in 2004. Soon they started selling 4-leaf clover accessories, which became a big hit and the company expanded. You can find really neat testimonials about these lucky charms on their web site.
Perhaps my readers have testimonials of their own in finding four-leaf clovers.
A few SuperstitionsSomeone finding a 4-leaf clover will find their future husband/wife in the same day.
It is a charm that protects against evil.
If you wear a 4-leaf clover charm, you will be able to see fairies.
Something good always happens when you find a 4-leaf clover.
Carole Christman Koch grew up in Berks County and has been published in numerous publications. She has a passion for writing and has many stories from growing up on a farm to raising children to humorous stories about her and her husband to everyday stories to season stories and more.