Lyr/Chords Req: Flowers Are Red (Harry Chapin)

Subject: Harry Chapin Request
From: Dan Calder
Date: 29 Nov 98 - 09:12 AM

I'm searching for a song Chapin wrote about a young boy in school who didn't view the world the same way his teacher did, and experienced some difficulty because of it. In the song, which is based on a true story, the teacher wanted all flowers coloured red, and all leaves green. The little boy saw life differently. Some of the words are as follows (please excuse my faulty memory):

Teacher: Flowers are red, my son/ Green leaves are green/ There is no need to see flowers any other way/ Than the way they always have been seen.

Boy: There are many colours in the rainbow/ There are many colours in the morning sun/ There are many colours in a flower/ And I see every one.

At the end of the song the boy's words are sung counterpoint to the teacher's. It's a great tune. I would appreciate any help in tracking down both the lyrics and chords.

Take care,

Dan

Subject: RE: Harry Chapin Request
From: bigJ
Date: 29 Nov 98 - 03:39 PM

The song 'Flowers are Red' appeared on two of Harry's albums - Living Room Suite 1978 (Elektra K52089) and Legends of the Lost and Found 1989 (Elektra K62026). I'm surprised that the lyrics aren't in the DT though!

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: FLOWERS ARE RED (Harry Chapin)
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 29 Nov 98 - 04:13 PM

Found at http://www.olga.net/search/index.html

Hope I'v put the "breaks" in correctly :-)

Flowers Are Red
Harry Chapin (klr)

riff-
[Em] The little boy went first day of school
He got some [C] crayons and started to draw
He put [Em] colors all over the paper
For [C] colors was what he saw
And the [Am7] teacher said.. What you doin' young man
[D] I'm paintin' flowers he said

She said... It's [Am7] not the time for art young man
And [D] anyway flowers are green and red
There's a [Em] time for everything young man
And a [C] way it should be done
You've got to [Em] show concern for everyone else
For you're [C] not the only [D] one

And she said...
[G] Flo [D] wers are [G] red young [D] man
[G] Green [D] leaves are [G] green [D]
There's [G] no need to [D] see flowers [G] any other [C] way
Than they [G] way they al [D] ways [G] have been [C] seen

But the little boy said...
There are [G] so many [D] colors in the [G] rain [D] bow
[G] So many [D] colors in the [C] morning [D] sun
[G] So many [C] colors in the [G] flo [C] wer
And [G] I see [D] every [G] one **riff**

[Em] Well the teacher said.. You're sassy
There's [C] ways that things should be done
And [Em] you'll paint flowers the way they are
So [C] repeat after [D] me..

And she said...
[G] Flo [D] wers are [G] red young [D] man
[G] Green [D] leaves are [G] green [D]
There's [G] no need to [D] see flowers [G] any other [C] way
Than they [G] way they al [D] ways [G] have been [C] seen

But the little boy said...
There are [G] so many [D] colors in the [G] rain [D] bow
[G] So many [D] colors in the [C] morning [D] sun
[G] So many [C] colors in the [G] flo [C] wer
And [G] I see [D] every [G] one **riff**

Well the [Em] teacher put him in a corner
She said.. [C] It's for your own good..
And you [Em] won't come out 'til you get it right
And are [C] responding like you should
Well [Am7] finally he got lonely
Frightened [D] thoughts filled his head
And he [Am7] went up to that teacher
And [D] this is what he said..

and he said...
[G] Flo [D] wers are [G] red, [D]
[G] Green [D] leaves are [G] green [D]
There's [G] no need to [D] see flowers [G] any other [C] way
Than the [G] way they [D] always [G] have been [C] seen **riff**

[Em] Time went by like it always does
And they [C] moved to another town
And the [Em] little boy went to another school
And [C] this is what he found
The [Am7] teacher there was smilin’
She said... [D] Painting should be fun
And there are [Am7] so many colors in a flower
So [D] let's use every one

But that [Em] little boy painted flowers
In neat [C] rows of green and red
And [Em] when the teacher asked him why
[C] This is what he [D] said...

and he said...
[G] Flo [D] wers are [G] red, [D]
[G] Green [D] leaves are [G] green [D]
There's [G] no need to [D] see flowers [G] any other [C] way
Than the [G] way they [D] always [G] have been [C] seen

but there still must be a way to have our children sing...
There are [G] so many [D] colors in the [G] rain [D] bow
[G] So many [D] colors in the [C] morning [D] sun
[G] So many [C] colors in the [G] flo [C] wer
And [G] I see [D] every [G] one

**riff**
6|------------------------------
5|------------------------------
4|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----------
3|--4-2---2-4-5-------------
2|------2-----------------------
1|------------------------------

Regards

Subject: RE: Harry Chapin Request
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 29 Nov 98 - 04:15 PM

Ripper1 I got it right

Subject: RE: Harry Chapin Request
From: Steve
Date: 29 Nov 98 - 07:41 PM

Tom Chapin recorded this recently on an excellent live album called "Join the Jubilee."

Subject: RE: Harry Chapin Request
From: Dan Calder
Date: 29 Nov 98 - 08:56 PM

Thanks Guys. It's great to know some things never change. You can always count on the 'Cat. Dan