Mardi Gras Trivia - If Ever I Cease To Love

Since the founding of the Rex Organization in 1872 its traditions have helped define Mardi Gras. Rex's Proclamation invites his subjects to the grand celebration of Carnival. His royal colors of purple, green, and gold are to this day the colors of Mardi Gras, and the song played in the first Rex parade, "If Ever I Cease to Love," has become Carnival's anthem. Rex and his Queen preside over the Rex Ball, Carnival's glittering conclusion.

The Rex Anthem

The official anthem of Rex is "If Ever I Cease to Love," a song from a popular musical comedy of the 1870's called "Blue Beard." This catchy tune was part of the repertoire of Lydia Thompson, a popular British singer whose American tour came to New Orleans in 1872, the year Rex was organized. The Grand Duke Alexis of Russia was also making an American tour, and was the honored guest for the first Rex parade. Legend has long romantically linked the Grand Duke with the singer, and suggested that "If Ever I Cease to Love" was performed for the Grand Duke because of his romantic interest in Miss Thompson. While this is a good story, it is probably not quite true. Bands performed the Russian national anthem for the Grand Duke, and when Rex dismounted on Canal Street to review the parade the bands played "If Ever I Cease to Love." It has been the Rex anthem ever since, played for Rex and his Queen when they arrive at the Grand Ball, for the presentation of the court, and after the meeting of the Rex and Comus courts on Mardi Gras night.

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This song was by George Leybourne circa 1870 and published by White, Smith & Perry, Boston, MA. This particular set of lyrics is from a 1946 "Souvenir Edition" published by Dave Frank, New Orleans.

Verse 1:

In a house, in a square, in a quadrant,
In a street, in a lane, in a road.
Turn to the left, on the right hand,
you see my true love's abode.
I go there a courting,
and cooing to my love like a dove,
And swearing on my bend-ed knee
If ever I cease to love,
May sheepsheads grow on apple trees,
If ever I cease to love.

Chorus 1:

If ever I cease to love,
If ever I cease to love
May the moon be turned to green cream cheese,
If ever I cease to love

Verse 2:

She can sing, she can play on the piano,
She can jump, she can dance, she can run.
For she's a wonderful girlie,
She's all of them rolled into one.
I adore her beauty, she's like an angel dropped from above
May the fish get legs, and the cows lay eggs,
If ever I cease to love,

Chorus 2

If I ever cease to love,
If I ever cease to love,
May we all turn into cats and dogs,
If I ever cease to love

(TO HEAR SUNG, GO HERE. VIDEO WITH NEW ORLEANS SCENES.)