Flowers are Red

There is so many things that I could say about this song....about how much it has influenced me for so many years, since I heard it for the first time so many years ago.....who Harry Chapin was....why he and so many folk musicians have been such a good influence in my life....and what Im continuing to learn about folk music all around the world....why sometimes songs can have such a powerful message....I think this one speaks for itself.

Flowers are Red
by Harry Chapin

The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and he started to draw
He put colors all over the paper
For colors was what he saw
And the teacher said.. What you doin' young man
Im paintin' flowers he said
She said....It's not time for art young man
And anyway flowers are green and red
Theres a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
Youve got to show concern for everyone else
For you're not the only one

And she said....
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
Theres no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

But the little boy said....
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

Well the teacher said.... You're sassy
Theres a way that things should be
And youll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me....

And she said....
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
Theres no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

But the little boy said....
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

The teacher put him in the corner
She said.. It's for youre own good..
And you wont come out 'till you get it right
And are responding like you should
Well finally he got lonely
Frightened thoughts filled his head
And he went up to the teacher
And this is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
Theres no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

Time went by like it always does
And they moved to another town
And the little boy went to another school
And this is what he found
The teacher there was smilin'
She said painting should be fun
And there are so many colors in the flower
So lets use every one

But the little boy painted flowers
In neat rows of green and red
and when the teacher asked him why
This is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen.