I sowed the seeds of love
And I sowed them in the spring
In April, May and June likewise
When the small birds do sweetly sing
When the small birds do sweetly sing.
My garden was planted well
With flowers everywhere
But I had not the liberty to choose for myself
The flower I loved so dear
The flower I loved so dear
The gardener he stood by
And I asked him to choose for me
He chose me the violet, the lily and the pink
But I refused all three
But I refused all three
The violet I forsook
Because it fades so soon
The pink and the lily I did overlook
And I vowed I'd stop till June
And I vowed I'd stop till June
For in June there's a red rosebud
And that's the flower for me
And often I plucked at the red rose bush
Till I gained the willow tree
Till I gained the willow tree
The gardener he stood by
And told me to take great care
For into the middle of the red rose bush
There grows a sharp thorn there
There grows a sharp thorn there
I told him I'd take no care
Till I had felt the smart
And I oftentimes plucked at the red rose bush
Till it pierced me to the heart
Till it pierced me to the heart
A posy of hyssop I'll make
No other flower I'll touch
That all the world may plainly see
I loved one flower too much
I loved one flower too much
Key to flowers and their meaning: violet modesty lily purity pink courtesy red rose passion willow unhappy love hyssop humility