The sun goes down in calvin county
Neon lights from an old beer sign
Shown through the window out on the sidewalk
As i walked in to pass the time;
I looked around, sat down at a table
Ordered beef on rye and a glass of wine
And through the door came a little old lady
She was selling paper roses and they only cost a dime.

Paper rosie, paper rosie
She sold you paper roses, but they only cost a dime.

Silver hair that's lost its' gold
Trembling hand as she passed the rose
Red crepe paper, made nature's bouquet
Help a little old lady buy a rose today;
I took the rose from her trembing hand
With eyes of age, she smilled and walked away
Like a breath of spring i could smell the rose
It came alive and i heard her say.

Buy my roses, pretty roses
They're only made of paper
But they only cost a dime.

I went to look for her outside
A spray of roses lay by her side
The sky lit up and the choir sang
A thousand voices as the church bells rang.

They sang rosie (rosie), paper rosie (rosie)
She sold you paper roses
But they only cost a dime.

Paper rosie (rosie), paper rosie (rosie)
She sold you paper roses
But they only cost a dime.