In her dark hair lay a white gardenia
she picks from the garden in her father’s yard
And in the sweet summer, how she glows like a firefly
floating through the garden in her father’s yard

She comes from the country with the blooming hydrangeas
She looks so delicate when she bats her eye
but don’t let her fool ya, she’ll drink you under the table
And here where she comes from, they never call her by her name

They say “Where have you been, oh our darling gardenia?
It’s good to see you, it’s been too long.
Oh, how we’ve missed you our darling gardenia.
It’s good to have you home. Who’s this with you?
You could’ve had anyone.”

She took me in, I was a mystery novelist
but how she’d uncover every clue
So I stick to doing what it is I do best:
Supporting a habit while she supports me
And so we were married, me and my gardenia
This chip on my shoulder only grows mean
And she drives me crazy but how I still love her
She deserves a song sweeter than I can sing

Where have you been, oh my darling gardenia?
No need to argue, you’re never wrong
Oh, how I’d miss you my darling gardenia
Who wants to be alone? It could’ve been anyone
Gardenia
Gardenia
Gardenia