About the song
Lynn Anderson’s “I Beg Your Pardon, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” is a timeless country classic that has captivated audiences for decades. Released in 1970, the song became a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, solidifying Anderson’s status as one of the most influential female country singers of her generation.
The song’s intro immediately sets the stage with a haunting melody and Anderson’s distinctive, soulful vocals. The lyrics explore themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships, painting a vivid picture of a woman who is struggling to come to terms with the end of a romantic relationship.
One of the song’s most memorable aspects is its haunting chorus, in which Anderson sings, “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.” The chorus emphasizes the song’s central theme of the importance of realistic expectations in relationships.
The song’s production is simple yet effective, with Anderson’s vocals and the accompanying instrumentation creating a raw and intimate atmosphere. The arrangement allows the lyrics to take center stage, emphasizing the song’s emotional depth.
“I Beg Your Pardon, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” is a testament to the power of storytelling through music. Its timeless melody, evocative lyrics, and Anderson’s soulful performance have made it a beloved classic that continues to resonate with audiences of all ages. The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to Anderson’s talent and her ability to create music that transcends time and genre.
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Lyrics
I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine there’s gotta be a little rain sometime
When you take, you gotta give, so live and let live and let go, oh, oh, oh, oh
I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose gardenI 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 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 canI beg your pardon I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine there’s gotta be a little rain sometime
I beg your pardon I never promised you a rose gardenI 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’d 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 canI beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine, there’s gotta be a little rain sometimeI beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine, there’s gotta be a little rain sometime