Second Handed Flowers
Composer(s): Tom T. Hall
Performer(s): Tom T. Hall; George Jones; James King



I was working in Miami for a day or two
I decided I'd look up a girl that I once knew
I bought some flowers and went to see the girl I used to know
The lady at her door said she had married long ago

Times will change and towns will change, but there I was alone
And suddenly I wondered would Susie be at home
So with the flowers in my hand I walked toward her gate
Someone touched me on the arm and said, "You'll have to wait"

Then I noticed there were people standing in a line
And some of them were holdin' pretty flowers just like mine
They explained that Susie had been in an awful crash
Doctors said that she had just a little while to last

When I walked into her room I felt a sense of shame
When I heard Susie whisper, "I'm awfully glad you came"
She had been the girl that I had always gone to see
When someone that I cared for had been untrue to me

I handed her the flowers and she gently kissed my hand
She said, "Don't be embarassed, you know I understand"
I said goodbye and as I bent to kiss her fevered brow
I heard her whisper, "Thank you for the second handed flowers"