G is for Green

Unsurprisingly, one of my favorite colors is GREEN. But WHICH green am I talking about? There are many shades of green. All of them! (OK, MOST of them.)

I like that being GREEN means being environmentally aware. I'm forever finding bottles to recycle, if not return. There is even a GREEN Party in New York State, and other parts of the world.

GREEN means GO, a great affirmation.

Of course, GREEN has some negative connotations as well.

It conveys the idea of something, or someone, not mature, deficient in training or sophistication or experience.

Worse, it suggests one of the seven deadly sins, as in green with envy, the green-eyed monster.

Still, lots of great songs that start with GREEN (all linked; chart numbers from Billboard (US) Top 100).

Green, Green - New Christy Minstrels (#14 in 1963)

Green, Green Grass of Home - Tom Jones (#11 in 1967)

Green Onions - Booker T and the MGs (#3 in 1962)

Green River - Creedence Clearwater Revival (#2 in 1969)

Green Tambourine - the Lemon Pipers (#1 in 1968)

An InLinkz Link-up

G is for Go Green

When I was growing up, if someone said they were going green that meant they were sick.

The expression green around the gills means someone is ill from motion sickness, the flu, or perhaps from too much alcohol. 

I'm not sure when Go Green first became a battle cry for environmental movements. 

My guess would be that it was sometime in the early 1970s that Go Green started being adopted as a slogan for anything from ocean conservation groups to recycling efforts.
 

Sometimes go green becomes ironic because it's used by commercial enterprises that aren't particularly good for the environment. They want you to think their products are better for the environment than their competitors products and begin their ad with GO GREEN.

Language and expressions can be confusing but tone of voice helps. If I say I'm going green and sound like I'm about to pass out that probably means I'm green around the gills. If I say I'm going green with a happy tone of voice, you can assume it has to do with an environmental issue I'm trying to help with my genuine efforts.

Gee whiz on with the games . . .