Scarlet Begonias Lyrics

[Chorus 1]
As I was walking down rubadub square
Not a chill to the weather but a nip to the air
From another direction she was caught in my eye
It could be an illusion, but I might as well try
Might as well try

[Chorus 2]
She had rings on her fingers and bells on her shoes
And I knew without asking she was into the blues
She wore scarlet begonias tucked into her curls
I knew right away, she was not like other girls
(Like other girls)

[Bridge]
Well, I ain't never been right, as I ain't never been wrong
It seldom works out the way it does in this song
(Hey)
'Cause once in a while you get shown in the light
In the strangest of places if you look at it right

[Rap Verse]
It was the summer of love, and I thank the stars above
Because the woman took the lovin' over me
And just to gain her trust, I bought a microbus
Because I sold up all my personal property
A tight tie-dyed dress, she was a psychedelic mess
We toured to the north, south, east and west
We sold some mushroom tea
We sold some ecstasy
We sold nitrous, opium, acid, heroin and PCP
And now I hear the police coming after me
Yes, now I hear the police coming after me

The one Scarlet, with the flowers in her hair
She's got the police coming after me

[Chorus 3]
Well, there ain't nothing wrong with the way she moves
All scarlet begonias and a touch of the blues
And there ain't nothin' wrong with the love that's in her eye
I had to learn the hard way just to let her pass by
Let her pass by

Oh, just to let her pass by

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About

Genius Annotation

This song is a reworking of the song by the Grateful Dead by the same name.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrIRE8Hzl7c&spfreload=10

Unlike the Dead version in which the two parties break up, this one ends a little different, as the main character realizes the girl he fell for is a narc.

The beat that plays throughout is taken from “Funky Drummer” by James Brown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoQ4AtsFWVM#t=319

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

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