Artificial Flowers

Alone in the world lived poor little Anne As sweet a young child as you'd find Her parents had gone to their final reward Leavin' their baby behind Did you hear this poor little child Was only nine years of age When mama and dad went away Still she bravely worked At the one thing she knew To earn her few pennies a day She'd make artificial flowers, Artificial flowers Flowers for ladies of fashion to wear She made artificial flowers Artificial flowers Made out of Annie's despair With paper and shears with some wire and wax She made up each tulip and mum And as snowflakes drifted into her tenement room Her baby little fingers grew numb From makin' artificial flowers Artificial flowers Flowers for ladies of high fashion to wear She made artificial flowers Artificial flowers Made out of Annie's despair (Let it cook!) They found little Annie all covered in ice Still clutchin' her poor frozen shears And next to all the blossoms She fashioned by hand And watered with all her young tears There must be a heaven Where little Annie can play Among heavenly gardens and bowers And instead of a halo She'll wear 'round her head A garland of genuine flowers... No more artificial flowers Toss away those artificial flowers Flowers for ladies of high society to wear Throw away those artificial flowers Those eighteen dumb-dumb flowers! Made out of Annie's... Made out of that little child's despair!