ROSE GARDEN - chords and comments
Lyrics without distraction HERE
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 as 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.
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 ...