Oh, once I had the collors as red as a rose Now my collors has fade like the lily that do grow Now my collors has fade like the lily that do grow And if it wasn't for flash company I should never been so poor So you take that yellow handkerchief in remembrance of me And tie it around your neck my love, in your flash company Flash company's been the ruin of me and the ruin of me quite And if it wasn't for flash company I should never been so poor Now it's singing and a dancing sure that is my delight Flash company being the ruin of me and the ruin of me quite Flash company has being the ruin of me and a great many more If it wasn't for flash company I should never been so poor So you take that yellow handkerchief in a remembrance of me And tie it around your neck, my love, in your flash company Flash company's been the ruin of me and a great many more If it wasn't for flash company I should never been so poor Now its all you little flash girls take a warning by me And never build your nest, my love, on the top of a tree For the green leaves they will wither and the roots they will decay And the beauty of a fair young maid that will soon fade away So you take a yellow handkerchief in a remembrance of me And you tie it 'round your neck, my love, in your flash company Flash company's been the ruin of me and the ruin of me quite If it wasn't for flash company I should never been so poor