| 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 brav-el-y 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 snowflakes drifted into her tenement room
|
| Her baby little fingers grew numb.
|
| From makin' 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 instea-a-ad 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 dum-dum flowers,
|
| Fashioned from Annie’s,
|
| Fashioned from A-a-a-annie's
|
| Des-pa-a-a-air.
|
| (Give her the real thing!) |