Harry Chapin — Flowers Are Red Live

[Intro] Rant rant rant rant rant rant rant rant It's an education beat [Verse 1] The little boy went for his 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 doing young man?" "I'm painting 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 A way it should be done You've got to show concern for everyone else For you're not the only one" [Chorus] 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 (Flowers are red, young man) So many colors in the morning sun (Green leaves are green) So many colors in a flower (There's no need to see flowers any other way) And I see every one" (Than the way they always have been seen) [Verse 2] 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" [Chorus] 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 again "There are so many colors in the rainbow (Flowers are red, young man) So many colors in the morning sun (Green leaves are green) So many colors in a flower (There's no need to see flowers any other way) And I see every one" (Than the way they always have been seen) [Verse 3] Well 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 that teacher And this is what he said [Chorus] And he said "Flowers are red And green leaves are green There's no need to see flowers any other way Than the way they always have been seen" [Verse 4] Of course time went by like it always does They moved to another town And the little boy went to another school This is what he found The teacher there was smiling 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 [Chorus] And he said "Flowers are red And green leaves are green There's no need to see flowers any other way Than the way they always have been seen" But there still must be a way to have our children say "There are so many colors in the rainbow (Flowers are red, young man) So many colors in the morning sun (Green leaves are green) So many colors in a flower (There's no need to see flowers any other way) And I see every one" (Than the way they always have been seen) [Outro] All right Austin!