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Read these lyrics

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cjgncjgn
Posts: 3023 - Karma: 21
Home > Music > Flowers are Red
Flowers are Red
by Harry Chapin

The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and 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
I'm paintin' flowers he said
She said... It's not the time for art young man
And anyway flowers are green and red
There's a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
You've 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
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than they 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
There's ways that things should be
And you'll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me.....

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than they 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 a corner
She said.. It's for your own good..
And you won't come out 'til 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
There's 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 a flower
So let's use every one

But that 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.


thoughts??

id love if anyone had a covered version of it or knew of one and could point me in the right direction...


what do you think of these lyrics?
what does it mean to you?
Mar 17 2006 9:30PM
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slimbruddah
Posts: 2611 - Karma: 25
I think it tries to show how adults influence children in everyday life. And how children just learn from older people.
It's kind of like the kids who life in Iraq and are all crazy about their religion. It's because that's all they know and that is all that was taught to them.
Mar 17 2006 9:37PM
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Arabian.
Posts: 9632 - Karma: 55
thats a good song. Am i right in saying that the school was attempting to break his mind and bend his will to reality by quashing his imagination and punishing him to get him to act in a suitable manner? thats deep.
Mar 17 2006 9:38PM
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sKILOve07
Posts: 3482 - Karma: 9
i like that, i like how the boy saw what he wanted to see it was basic reality in a world where there were no covers or facades, what the teacher saw was standard and structured.

well.. thats how i saw it anyways.
Mar 17 2006 9:38PM
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ThaLetterM.
Posts: 8609 - Karma: 1,613
that kid's soul was broken by the man. the downfall of society.
Mar 17 2006 9:42PM
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cjgncjgn
Posts: 3023 - Karma: 21
yea you are all right. at least in my opinion, this is one of my fav songs for the lyrics. it shows just how much schools really do destroy any sense of individuality, and how those that fight back get burned
Mar 17 2006 10:02PM
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Chubby.Chaser
Posts: 2926 - Karma: 15
A child arrived just the other day,
He came to the world in the usual way.
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay.
He learned to walk while I was away.
And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew,
He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad.
You know I'm gonna be like you."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

My son turned ten just the other day.
He said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play.
Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today,
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's ok."
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed,
Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

Well, he came from college just the other day,
So much like a man I just had to say,
"Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head, and he said with a smile,
"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See you later. Can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then."

I've long since retired and my son's moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."
He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time.
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kid's got the flu,
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad.
It's been sure nice talking to you."
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
We're gonna have a good time then.
Mar 17 2006 10:14PM
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