Artificial Flowers

Alone in the world

Was 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 mother and dad went away

Still she bravely worked

At the one thing she knew

To earn her few pennies a day

She made artificial flowers

Artificial flowers

Flowers for ladies

Of fashion to wear

She made artificial flowers

You know those artificial flowers?

Fashioned from Annie's despair

With paper and shears

With some wire and wax

She made up each tulip and mum

As snow flakes drifted into her tenement room

Her baby little fingers grew numb

From making artificial flowers

Those artificial flowers

Flowers for ladies

Of high fashion to wear

She made artificial flowers

Artificial flowers

Made from Annie's despair

They found little Annie

All covered with ice

Still clutchin' her poor frozen shears

Amidst all the blossoms

She had fashioned by hand

And watered with all her young tears

There must be a Heaven

Where little Annie can play

In heavenly gardens and bowers

And instead of a halo

She'll wear 'round her head

A garland of genuine flowers

No more artificial flowers

Throw away those artificial flowers

Flowers for ladies

Of society to wear

Throw away those artificial flowers

Those dumb-dumb flowers

Fashioned from Annie's

Fashioned from Annie's despair

Give her the real thing