About the song
“I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised You a Rose Garden)” stands as a seminal track from the Canadian duo Kon Kan, marking their debut single released in 1989 as part of their album ‘Move to Move’. Crafted by Barry Harris, who served as both writer and producer, the song ingeniously samples Lynn Anderson’s 1970 classic “Rose Garden,” co-credited to American musician Joe South due to its use of his original composition.
Barry Harris, in reflecting on the song’s creation, described it as a deliberate response to Anderson’s hit, framing it as a “question” to her “answer.” At the time of its inception, Harris was a burgeoning DJ in Toronto, overflowing with creative concepts that found expression in this track initially released on an independent label.
“I Beg Your Pardon” is renowned for its innovative use of samples, incorporating elements from diverse sources such as GQ’s “Disco Nights (Rock-Freak),” Silver Convention’s “Get Up and Boogie,” Tones on Tail’s “Go!”, alongside nods to Spagna’s “Call Me” and Elmer Bernstein’s theme from ‘The Magnificent Seven’. This collage of influences marked a departure from conventional pop norms, earning praise from critics like James Masterton for its pioneering approach within the club scene.
Musically, Harris drew inspiration from contemporary hits like the Pet Shop Boys’ reinterpretation of “Always on My Mind,” aiming to transform Anderson’s country ballad into an upbeat synthpop anthem. The lyrics, rooted in Harris’s personal experiences of love, unfolded with a narrative charm, capturing listeners with its infectious melody and inventive production techniques.
The song achieved significant commercial success, peaking within the top twenty charts in various countries including the UK and the US, where it reached numbers 5 and 15, respectively. Its impact on the music landscape was notable for bridging disparate genres and setting new standards in sample-based pop production.
Barry Harris’s debut studio project with Kon Kan not only launched the duo into international recognition but also established a precedent for future artists exploring the boundaries of electronic and dance music. “I Beg Your Pardon” remains a testament to Harris’s vision and innovation, resonating with audiences as a timeless classic that continues to influence contemporary music production.
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Lyrics
I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine there’s gotta be a little rain sometime
When you take, you gotta give, so live and let live and let go, oh, oh, oh, oh
I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose gardenI could promise you things like big diamond rings
But you don’t find roses growin’ on stalks of clover
So you better think it over
Well, if sweet talking you could make it come true
I would give you the world right now on a silver platter
But what would it matter?
So smile for a while and let’s be jolly; love shouldn’t be so melancholy
Come along and share the good times while we canI beg your pardon I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine there’s gotta be a little rain sometime
I beg your pardon I never promised you a rose gardenI could sing you a tune and promise you the moon
But if that’s what it takes to hold you I’d just as soon let you go
But there’s one thing I want you to know
You’d better look before you leap; still waters run deep
And there won’t always be someone there to pull you out
And you know what I’m talking about
So smile for a while and let’s be jolly; love shouldn’t be so melancholy
Come along and share the good times while we canI beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine, there’s gotta be a little rain sometimeI beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine, there’s gotta be a little rain sometime