The Beautiful South - Artificial Flowers lyrics

As sweet a young child as you'd find

Her parents had gone to their final reward

Leaving 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 a few pennies a day

She made artificial flowers, artificial flowers

Flowers for ladies of fashion to wear

She made artificial flowers, artificial flowers

Fashioned from Annie's despair

With papers and shears, with wire and wax

She made up each tulip and mum

As snow flakes drifted in to her tenement room

Her baby little fingers grew numb

From artificial flowers, those artificial flowers

Flowers for ladies of high fashion to wear

She made artificial flowers, artificial flowers

Made from Annie's despair

And they found little Annie all covered with ice

Still clutching 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 halo, she'll wear round her head

A garland of genuine flowers

No more artificial flowers, artificial flowers

Flowers for ladies of society to wear

Those artificial flowers, artificial flowers

Fashioned from Annie's

Fashioned from Annie's despair