ARTIFICIAL ROSE
(Tom T. Hall)

Jimmy Newman - 1965
Dave Dudley - 1966




The little waitress wore an artificial rose
I met her in a truckstop long ago
She brought my coffee with a smile and then sat down
And we started talkin' 'bout my wanderin' round

I recall the night I gave her that red rose
Just a little joke between us I suppose
But she laughed and tucked it in her golden hair
And from that day on she always wore it there

Never blooms, never grows, artificial rose

As time went out I got to know her well
Grew to love her, but I knew I couldn't tell
About the other woman farther down the line
But she trusted me, said I was not that kind

Never blooms, never grows, artificial rose

One night when I had traveled many miles
I pulled in and thought I'd see her lovin' smile
But she only left a package tied in red
And inside a little tear-stained note that read

She said I've found out, now I return to you
This rose that I've been wearin' like a fool
May your life be cold and lonely as can be
Like this artificial rose you gave to me

Never blooms, never grows, artificial rose




(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - Sept 2010)