"Lilac Wine" is a song written by James Shelton (words and music) in 1950. It was introduced by Hope Foye in the short-lived theater musical revue, "Dance Me a Song." It was covered by Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kitt

Eartha Mae Kitt was an American singer, actress, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 hit recordings of "C'est Si Bon" and the enduring Christmas novelty smash "Santa Baby." Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the...

 (1953), by Judy Henske

Judy Henske

Judy Henske is an American singer and songwriter, once known as "the Queen of the Beatniks".-Life and recording career:...

 on her first, self-named album (1963), by Nina Simone

Nina Simone

Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...

 on her album Wild Is The Wind

Wild Is the Wind (album)

Wild Is the Wind is singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone's sixth album under record company Philips. The album was made up of several recordings that were left over of recording sessions for previous Philips albums...

(1966), was a solo hit by Elkie Brooks

Elkie Brooks

Elkie Brooks is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice...

 and appeared on her album Pearls and later by Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley

Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...

 on his album Grace (1994). In 2008 it was sung (Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley

Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...

 version) at least once as background music in the French film Tell No One

Tell No One

Tell No One is a 2006 French thriller film directed by Guillaume Canet and based on the novel of the same name by Harlan Coben. It was written by Guillame Canet and Philippe Lefèbvre and stars François Cluzet...

 and in 2010 appeared on the Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck

Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...

 album Emotion & Commotion

Emotion & Commotion

Emotion & Commotion is the tenth studio album by guitarist Jeff Beck, released in April 2010 on ATCO Records. In addition to featuring vocal performances by Joss Stone, Imelda May and Olivia Safe, the album showcases a 64-piece orchestra on several tracks, and includes covers of well-known songs...

with vocals by Imelda May

Imelda May

Imelda Mary Higham, Clabby , known as Imelda May, is an Irish vocalist and musician. She began her career in music at 15 and released her debut album in 2005. She also plays the bodhrán and guitar...

. The Argentinian alternative rock band Panza has also covered Lilac Wine on their 2007 album "Pequeños Fracasos" (Little Failures). The song also appears on Call Off The Search

Call off the Search

The Japanese release has the extra track "Deep Purple".-Personnel:*Katie Melua - guitar, vocals*Mike Batt - organ, piano, conductor*Jim Cregan - guitar*Tim Harries - bass*The Irish Film Orchestra - orchestra*Michael Kruk - drums*Alan Smale - leader...

(2003) album of Katie Melua

Katie Melua

Ketevan "Katie" Melua is a British-Georgian singer, songwriter and musician. She moved to Northern Ireland at the age of eight and then to England at fourteen. Melua is signed to the small Dramatico record label, under the management of composer Mike Batt, and made her musical debut in 2003...

 and on the album Someone to Watch Over Me

Someone to Watch Over Me (album)

*The album is also available in a Special Edition that features a bonus DVD with music videos of the songs "You Have to Be There", "Unchained Melody", "Autumn Leaves", and "Perfect Day".-Charts:-Release history:...

(2011) of Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle

Susan Magdalane Boyle is a Scottish singer who came to international public attention when she appeared as a contestant on the TV programme Britain's Got Talent on 11 April 2009, singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from ...

.

The only artist to have major chart success with the song was Elkie Brooks

Elkie Brooks

Elkie Brooks is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice...

 in 1978 and the song remains closely associated with her, especially in the UK and Europe.

Lyrics

The lyrics form a narrative in which the narrator recounts their experiences with the lilac tree, lilac wine made from it, and their loved one. It evokes feelings of love, loss, pleasure and confusion in the narrator as they become drunk on the wine.

There is a suggestion that the song could have a more sombre meaning. It is commonly believed that the leaves and flowers of the Lilac tree are both poisonous. This would suggest that the lyrics of 'Lilac Wine' are a reference to a woman committing suicide whilst dreaming of her lost love. However, this is a misconception. Lilac wine has been made for centuries using lilac petals, which are not poisonous and are edible.

Videos

In 2010, a music video for Lilac Wine, performed by the Cinematic Orchestra, was created by the Bl:nd production company as part of a collection of videos to celebrate Dr. Marten's

Dr. Martens

Dr. Martens is a traditional British footwear brand, which also makes a range of accessories – shoe care products, clothing, luggage, etc. In addition to Dr. Martens, they are known as Doctor Martens, Doc Martens, Docs or DMs...

footwear.