flowers are red

Flowers are Red

By : Zain Bhikha

Original Song by: Harry Chapin

(Dawud Wharnsby Ali, Muhammed Bhikha & Rashid Bhikha ( Fakazi Ngwekazi (Nhlanhla), Linda Gcwensa & Mfana Nxumalo (Sipho) 

A little boy went first day at school

He got some crayons and he started to draw

He put colors all over the paper

For colors was what he saw

The teacher said, "What you doin' young man?"

"I'm paintin' flowers see" 

"Well this is 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" 

And she said...

"Flowers are red

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

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 a way that things should be

And you'll paint flowers the way they are

So repeat after me..."

she said...

"Flowers are red 

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

So many colors in the morning sun

So many colors in the flower and I see every one" 

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

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 

"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"

Well time went by like it always does

he 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 paint every one" 

that little boy painted flowers

In neat rows of green and red

And when the teacher asked him "why"

This is what 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."

But there must still be a way to have our children say,

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

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