Artificial Rose

The little waitress wore an artificial rose

I met her in a truck stop long ago

She brought my coffee with a smile and then sat down

And we started talking bout my wanderin' round



I recall the night I gave her that red rose

Just a little joke between us I suppose

But she laughed and tucked it in her golden hair

And from that day on she always wore it there

Never blooms, never grows, artificial rose



As time went out, I got to know her well

Grew to love her but I knew I couldn't tell

About the other woman farther down the line

But she trusted me, said I was not that kind

Never blooms, never grows, artificial rose



One night when I had traveled many miles

I pulled in and thought I'd see her loving smile

But she only left a package tied in red

And inside a little tear stained note that read



She said, "I've found out, now I return to you

This rose that I've been wearing like a fool

May your life be cold and lonely as can be

Like this artificial rose you gave to me

Never blooms, never grows, artificial rose"