(i never promised you a) rose garden

Lynn Anderson had an international crossover hit with this song that took its title from an autobiographical novel by Hannah Green. Joe South wrote the song years before and recorded his own version; but it wasn't a hit until Anderson's rendition. Columbia records was resistant to her recording the song; but she was given a chance to record it and Clive Davis decided it should be her next single. It was a hit in sixteen countries and was translated into many languages. Anderson was voted female country vocalist of the year by the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music and won a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

http://www.lynnandersonshow.com/

I beg your pardon,

I never promised you a rose garden.

Along with the sunshine,

There's gotta be a little rain sometimes.

When you take, you gotta give, so live and let live,

Or let go.

I beg your pardon,

I never promised you a rose garden.

I could promise you things like big diamond rings,

But you don't find roses growin' on stalks of clover.

So you better think it over.

Well, if sweet-talkin' you could make it come true,

I would give you the world right now on a silver platter,

But what would it matter?

So smile for a while and let's be jolly:

Love shouldn't be so melancholy.

Come along and share the good times while we can.

I beg your pardon,

I never promised you a rose garden.

Along with the sunshine,

There's gotta be a little rain sometimes.

I beg your pardon,

I never promised you a rose garden.

I could sing you a tune or promise you the moon,

But if that's what it takes to hold you,

I'd just as soon let you go, but there's one thing I want you to know.

You better look before you leap, still waters run deep,

And there won't always be someone there to pull you out,

And you know what I'm talkin' about.

So smile for a while and let's be jolly:

Love shouldn't be so melancholy.

Come along and share the good times while we can.

I beg your pardon,

I never promised you a rose garden.

Along with the sunshine,

There's gotta be a little rain sometimes.