In the Mandarin's Orchid Garden
Plight of the Unwanted Bloom
Lyrics
Somehow by fate misguided
Feeling led astray by destiny
A buttercup resided
A small yellow flower, a buttercup, existed
In the Mandarin's orchid garden
Located in the garden belonging to a Mandarin (a high-ranking Chinese official)
A buttercup that did not grace
A buttercup that didn't complement the beauty of the surroundings
The loveliness of such a place
It lacked the charm suitable for such an elegant place
And so it simply shriveled up
Consequently, it withered away
And begged each orchid's pardon
Apologizing to each orchid for its inadequacy
Poor little buttercup in the orchid garden
Poor buttercup, out of place in the orchid garden
The bees came buzzing daily
Bees visited regularly
And kissed the orchids gaily
Expressing affection to the orchids
In the Mandarin's orchid garden
Within the Mandarin's orchid garden
The buttercup sighed logningly
The buttercup sighed with longing
But love was not for such as she
Love was unattainable for the buttercup
And so one day it shriveled up
Eventually, it withered away
And died, still begging pardon
Still seeking forgiveness as it died
Poor little buttercup in the orchid garden
Poor buttercup, misplaced in the orchid garden
I, too, have been misguided
The speaker acknowledges being led astray
Too long have I resided
Resided for too long in the Mandarin's orchid garden
In the Mandarin's orchid garden
Expressing a yearning for friendship
And though for friendliness I yearn
Despite the desire for companionship, unsure which direction to take
I do not know which way to turn
Feeling lost and uncertain
How long must I keep shriv'ling up
How long will the speaker continue to wither away emotionally?
And beg each lady's pardon?
Continuously seeking forgiveness from each lady
A lonely buttercup in the orchid garden
A lonely individual, like the buttercup, in the orchid garden
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