joe south
Joe South, born Joseph Alfred Souter (1940–2012), wrote this one in 1967. It was first recorded by Billy Joe Royal the same year, followed by South himself. None of these recordings were especially successful, but in 1970 Lynn Anderson came across South's original and decided to cover it.
The producer at Columbia Records refused: he regarded it a male song. Lynn did not give in, and won the battle. The single became a huge crossover-hit all around the world. She did not only cover it, she captured it.
A lot of artists have covered it ever since. They all sound the same. Joe South's way of making music made sure: play as is, or get lost.
I've tried to tweak it, to make it my own. Damn, I got lost. I don't fancy to get stuck ... so I play it as is.
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 ...oh oh oh
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 growing on stalks of clover
so you better think it over
when it's sweet talking 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 and 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 talking 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
I beg your pardon ...
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G Am D D7 G I beg your pardon I never promised you a rose garden Am D D7 G along with the sunshine there's gotta be a little rain sometimes C Am when you take you gotta give so live and let live or let go oh oh oh D D7 G I beg your pardon I never promised you a rose garden G I could promise you things like big diamond rings G G7 Am but you don't find roses growing on stalks of clover D7 so you better think it over G when it's sweet talking you could make it come true G7 Am I would give you the world right now on a silver platter D7 but what would it matter Am D D7 so smile for a while and let's be jolly Bm E7 love shouldn't be so melancholy Am A7 Cm ...D7 come along and share the good times while we can Am D D7 G ... I beg your pardon I never promised you a rose garden ...
