Alone in the world
was poor little Ann
As sweet a young child
as you'd find
Her parents had gone
to their final reward
leavin' their baby behind
Did you hear this
poor little child
was only nine years of age
When mother and dad
went away?
Still she bravely worked
at the one thing she knew
To earn her few pennies a day
She made artificial flowers
artificial flowers
Flowers for ladies
of fashion to wear
She made artificial flowers
you know those
artificial flowers
Fashioned from Annie's despair
With paper and shears
with some wire and wax
She made up each
tulip and mum
As snowflakes drifted
into her tenement room
Her baby little fingers
grew numb
From making artificial flowers
those artificial flowers
Flowers for ladies
of high fashion to wear
She made artificial flowers
artificial flowers
made from Annie's despair
They found little Annie
all covered with ice
Still clutching her poor
folding shears
Amidst all the blossoms
she had fashioned by hand
And watered with
all her young tears
There must be a heaven
where little Annie can play
In heavenly gardens and bowers
And instead of a halo
She'll wear 'round her head
a garden of genuine flowers
No more artificial flowers
throw away those
artificial flowers
Flowers for ladies
of society to wear
Throw away those
artificial flowers
those dumb dumb flowers
Fashioned from Annie's
fashioned from Annie's despair