We All Make the Flowers Grow
Lee Hazlewood Lyrics


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Cowards and heroes
Listen my friends
If you have money
Or nothing to spend
It'll make no difference
In a hundred years or so
Sooner or later
We all make the little flowers grow

Wise men and fools
Two 'll get you five
You'll never get
Out of this world alive
Don't run and hide
It's no use I know
Sooner or later
We all make the little flowers grow

[acoustic guitar]

Short men and tall men
And all the rest
Please don't blame me
I didn't start this mess
Some of us stay
Some of us go




Sooner or later
We all make the little flowers grow

Overall Meaning

In "We All Make the Flowers Grow," Lee Hazlewood reflects on the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life. He calls on both cowards and heroes to listen, conveying the idea that despite differences in socioeconomic status, mortality is democratic - it comes for everyone. Hazlewood stresses that ultimately, a person’s wealth or poverty has nothing to do with the fact that one day they will die. The line "Sooner or later, we all make the little flowers grow" is repeated throughout the song as a reminder that death is a natural and cyclical part of life.


Hazlewood addresses both wise men and fools, pointing out the futility of trying to outwit death. He notes that regardless of intelligence, no one can escape the inevitability of death. Hazlewood urges listeners not to run and hide because there is no use trying to avoid death. It's something we all must face, eventually.


In the final stanza, Hazlewood mentions "short men and tall men and all the rest," emphasizing that death is an equalizer that does not discriminate. Nobody can avoid the moment when their time has come. "We All Make the Flowers Grow" is a poignant reminder of life's transience and the universal experience of mortality.


Line by Line Meaning

Cowards and heroes
Regardless of our perceived bravery or fearfulness


Listen my friends
Pay attention to my words


If you have money or nothing to spend
Regardless of one's financial situation


It'll make no difference in a hundred years or so
It is insignificant in the grand scheme of time


Sooner or later we all make the little flowers grow
We all contribute to life and creation


Wise men and fools
Regardless of our intelligence or foolishness


Two 'll get you five
A saying of dubious certainty


You'll never get out of this world alive
We all will eventually die


Don't run and hide, it's no use I know
We cannot avoid our fate


Sooner or later we all make the little flowers grow
We all contribute to life and creation


Short men and tall men and all the rest
Regardless of our physical differences


Please don't blame me, I didn't start this mess
I am not responsible for the state of the world


Some of us stay, some of us go
We all have different life paths and outcomes


Sooner or later we all make the little flowers grow
We all contribute to life and creation




Contributed by Lauren H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@slint69

Cowards and heroes listen my friends
If you have money or nothing to spend
It'll make no difference in a hundred years or so

Sooner or later we'll all make the little flowers grow
Or later we'll all make the little flowers grow

Wise men and fools who get your fight
You'll never get out of this world alive
Don't run and hide it's no use I know

Sooner or later we'll all make the little flowers grow
Or later we'll all make the little flowers grow

Short men and tall men and all the rest
Please don't blame me I didn't start this mess
Some of us stay and some of us go

Sooner or later we'll all make the little flowers grow
Or later we'll all make the little flowers grow



@iamjoshl

[Verse 1:]
Cowards and heroes listen my friends
If you have money or nothing to spend
It'll make no difference in a hundred years or so

[Chorus:]
Sooner or later we'll all make the little flowers grow
Or later we'll all make the little flowers grow

[Verse 2:]
Wise men and fools who get your fight
You'll never get out of this world alive
Don't run and hide it's no use I know

[Chorus]

[Verse 3:]
Short men and tall men and all the rest
Please don't blame me I didn't start this mess
Some of us stay and some of us go

[Chorus]

[Outro:]
(Course I wouldn't want you to think that everybody born in Trouble was born bad
And they either had to get good or stay bad
But some of 'em born on the other side of that railroad track
Just never could find the time or a good enough teacher to learn about bein' good)



All comments from YouTube:

@lisasmith1850

Great song and so timeless. I never would have heard this if you hadn't shared this. Thank you.

@slint69

Cowards and heroes listen my friends
If you have money or nothing to spend
It'll make no difference in a hundred years or so

Sooner or later we'll all make the little flowers grow
Or later we'll all make the little flowers grow

Wise men and fools who get your fight
You'll never get out of this world alive
Don't run and hide it's no use I know

Sooner or later we'll all make the little flowers grow
Or later we'll all make the little flowers grow

Short men and tall men and all the rest
Please don't blame me I didn't start this mess
Some of us stay and some of us go

Sooner or later we'll all make the little flowers grow
Or later we'll all make the little flowers grow

@stephenbingham5935

Have wanted to hear this song again for nearly 30 years. It is so simple cool and beautiful.

@paulwhitby4752

It's like into your first love on the street, isn't it? I know that feeling.

@paulwhitby4752

Yes, it's floats on the air, doesn't?

@sidDkid87

timeless

@sifunagerrah4791

I heard this song in the movie Bad Sisters it's so beautiful ❀. I love it.

@earsoreland78

Wow what a sweet haunting song - I am a Big Lee Fan too.

@gooddogcab

Effin' awesome!!! - A Lee H classic paired with very apposite found footage...great Β job, bravo!

@iamjoshl

[Verse 1:]
Cowards and heroes listen my friends
If you have money or nothing to spend
It'll make no difference in a hundred years or so

[Chorus:]
Sooner or later we'll all make the little flowers grow
Or later we'll all make the little flowers grow

[Verse 2:]
Wise men and fools who get your fight
You'll never get out of this world alive
Don't run and hide it's no use I know

[Chorus]

[Verse 3:]
Short men and tall men and all the rest
Please don't blame me I didn't start this mess
Some of us stay and some of us go

[Chorus]

[Outro:]
(Course I wouldn't want you to think that everybody born in Trouble was born bad
And they either had to get good or stay bad
But some of 'em born on the other side of that railroad track
Just never could find the time or a good enough teacher to learn about bein' good)

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