The little waitress wore an artificial rose I met her in a truckstop long ago She brought my coffee with a smile and then sat down And we started talkin' 'bout my wanderin' round I recall the night I gave her that red rose Just a little joke between us I suppose But she laughed and tucked it in her golden hair And from that day on she always wore it there Never blooms, never grows, artificial rose As time went out I got to know her well Grew to love her, but I knew I couldn't tell About the other woman farther down the line But she trusted me, said I was not that kind Never blooms, never grows, artificial rose One night when I had traveled many miles I pulled in and thought I'd see her lovin' smile But she only left a package tied in red And inside a little tear-stained note that read She said I've found out, now I return to you This rose that I've been wearin' like a fool May your life be cold and lonely as can be Like this artificial rose you gave to me Never blooms, never grows, artificial rose