In a garden of city streets
I watched her growing there
Prettier by far than the flowers in her own black hair
And the traffic kinda cools it
And it stops for a while
Just to watch her walk and smile her pretty smile

And I wouldn't know her even if I never heard her name
Cause no matter what they called her
To me it's all the same
Yes, a rose by any other name is still a rose

Though I know her Christian name is Maria
But a rose by any other name is still a rose
And my friend you'll know what I mean the moment you see her

Oh, yesterday we touched for the first time
It was worth the wait when I felt her cherry lips on mine
And the tears ran down her cheeks
And she whispered darling, I love you
Oh [?] even in the ghetto dreams can come true

And I wouldn't know her even if I never heard her name
Cause no matter what they called her
To me it's all the same
Yes, a rose by any other name is still a rose
Though I know her Christian name is Maria
But a rose by any other name is still a rose
And my friend you'll know what I mean the moment you see her

Oh, a rose by any other name is still a rose
And my friend you'll know what I mean the moment you see her
A rose by any other name is still a rose
And my friend you'll know what I mean the moment you see her