Alone in the world lived poor little Anne
As sweet a young child as you'd find
Her parents had gone to their final reward
Leavin' their baby behind

Did you hear this poor little child
Was only nine years of age
When mama and dad went away
Still she bravely worked
At the one thing she knew
To earn her few pennies a day

She'd make artificial flowers
Artificial flowers
Flowers for ladies of fashion to wear
She made artificial flowers
Artificial flowers
Made out of Annie's despair

With paper and shears with some wire and wax
She made up each tulip and mum
And as snowflakes drifted into her tenement room
Her baby little fingers grew numb

From makin' artificial flowers
Artificial flowers
Flowers for ladies of high fashion to wear
She made artificial flowers
Artificial flowers
Made out of Annie's despair
(Let it cook!)

They found little Annie all covered in ice
Still clutchin' her poor frozen shears
And next to all the blossoms
She fashioned by hand
And watered with all her young tears

There must be a heaven
Where little Annie can play
Among heavenly gardens and bowers
And instead of a halo
She'll wear 'round her head
A garland of genuine flowers...

No more artificial flowers
Toss away those artificial flowers
Flowers for ladies of high society to wear
Throw away those artificial flowers
Those eighteen dumb-dumb flowers!
Made out of Annie's...
Made out of that little child's despair!