In the Mandarin’s Orchid Garden George Gershwin

Somehow by fate misguided
A buttercup resided
In the Mandarin's orchid garden
A buttercup that did not grace
The loveliness of such a place
And so it simply shriveled up
And begged each orchid's pardon
Poor little buttercup
In the orchid garden

The bees came buzzing daily
And kissed the orchids gaily
In the Mandarin's orchid garden
The buttercup sighed logningly
But love was not for such as she
And so one day it shriveled up
And died, still begging pardon
Poor little buttercup
In the orchid garden


I, too, have been misguided
Too long have I resided
In the Mandarin's orchid garden
And though for friendliness I yearn
I do not know which way to turn
How long must I keep shriv'ling up
And beg each lady's pardon?
A lonely buttercup
In the orchid garden