Lyr Req: Flowers Are Red (Harry Chapin)

Subject: Paxton or Seeger, Colors in the rainbow
From: FalkirkDave
Date: 24 Aug 99 - 03:46 PM

Could've been either Tom Paxton or Pete Seeger (or maybe you know better?)who sung this song about a child being sifled in school. Teacher tells the children everything in black and white. New teacher comes on the scene and sees all the colours but the children only see black and white. I think thats the gist of it, it's ages since I heard it, anyone help?

---

See this thread (click) for Harry Chapin's "Flowers are Red."

Subject: Lyr Add: YOU CAME THROWING COLORS (Tom Paxton)
From: Tiger
Date: 24 Aug 99 - 04:40 PM

This is from Paxton's "Peace Will Come" album, 1972. Don't know about the teacher reference, but the rest fits.

.....Tiger

You Came Throwing Colors
Tom Paxton

CHORUS
You came throwing colors
All around my blacks and grays,
While I stood in wondor you just opened up my days.
Let me tell you what you did to me,
I want to shout the news.
You came throwing colors 'round my blues,
You came throwing colors 'round my blues.

Makes me wonder how I got
The way I used to be,
Something in my head
Just simply made a mess of me,
Then you told me love was possible,
You told me I was free.
You came throwing colors 'round my blues

CHORUS

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

Oh, I would sit for hours
Never noticing the sky.
Chances came and went,
You know, I let them scurry by.
Then you told me love was possible,
You made me want to try -
You came throwing colors 'round my blues.

CHORUS

(You came throwing colors 'round my blues.)
(You came throwing colors 'round my blues.)

Subject: RE: Paxton or Seeger, Colors in the rainbow
From: Paddy(1)
Date: 24 Aug 99 - 06:33 PM

Dave

I rather think the song is by the recently deceased singer whose name escapes me for the moment but the chorus is:

And the teacher said..

Flowers are red young man
And green leaves are green
And there's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

And the little boy said ...

There are so many colours in the rainbow
So many colours in the morning sun
So many colours in the rainbow
And I see every one.

Paddy

Wait .. his name is Harry Chapham (won't guarantee the spelling)

Goodnight all

Subject: RE: Paxton or Seeger, Colors in the rainbow
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 24 Aug 99 - 06:48 PM

Think it's Harry Chapin.

And it's a great song.

Subject: RE: Paxton or Seeger, Colors in the rainbow
From: Pelrad
Date: 25 Aug 99 - 12:08 AM

Stan Rogers, isn't it? I could swear I heard it on one of his albums as a child.

Subject: RE: Paxton or Seeger, Colors in the rainbow
From: Frank of Toledo
Date: 25 Aug 99 - 12:33 AM

The title is "Flowers Are Red" from Harry Chapin on his album "Legends of the Lost and Found" 1979.....

Subject: Lyr Add: FLOWERS ARE RED (Harry Chapin)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 08:20 AM

Found at several places on the Internet:

FLOWERS ARE RED
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, "Whatcha 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 the 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 the 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."