# Leave Them a Flower

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1969 single by Ed Ames

"Leave Them a Flower" Single by Ed Ames from the album Love of the Common People B-side "(The) Love of the Common People" Released September 1969 Studio RCA's Music Center of the World, Hollywood, California Genre Pop[1] easy listening[2] Length 2:55 Label RCA Victor Records Songwriter Wally Whyton Producer Jim Foglesong Ed Ames singles chronology "Think Summer" (1969) "Leave Them a Flower" (1969) "A Thing Called Love" (1969)

"**Leave Them a Flower**" is a 1969 song written by [Wally Whyton](/source/Wally_Whyton). It was most notably performed by [Ed Ames](/source/Ed_Ames), who released it as a single in late 1969. His version reached the US and Canadian adult-oriented charts and received positive-to-mixed reception. The lyrics were noted by critics for preserving nature for future generations. Whyton released his own version a few years later.

## Background and release

American singer [Ed Ames](/source/Ed_Ames) enjoyed brief pop success in 1967 and 1968, charting several songs in the top-100 of charts.[3] As sales decreased he switched his style to message songs in 1969 with "[Changing, Changing](/source/Changing%2C_Changing)" and the LP *[A Time for Living, a Time for Hope](/source/A_Time_for_Living%2C_a_Time_for_Hope)*.[4] In late 1969 Ames would try do repeat the theme with [Wally Whyton](/source/Wally_Whyton)'s "Leave Them a Flower".[5] The song was noted by critics as being a "flower-power [ballad](/source/Ballad)".[6] The single was produced by [Jim Foglesong](/source/Jim_Foglesong), and arranged by [Jimmie Haskell](/source/Jimmie_Haskell) on the [A-side](/source/A-side) and by [Al Capps](/source/Al_Capps) on the [B-side](/source/B-side) "[(The) Love of the Common People](/source/Love_of_the_Common_People)". It became the title track for his subsequent album *[Love of the Common People](/source/Love_of_the_Common_People_(Ed_Ames_album))*, with both tracks included.[5]

## Critical reception

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Record World [7] Cashbox Positive (Pick of the Week)[1]

The single received a positive critical reception upon its release. *[Cashbox](/source/Cashbox_(magazine))* believed that "Futurism in the '[2525](/source/2525)' mold but with a vocal power and a traditional folk melody to supply drive behind a more positive comment on tomorrow." They called it a "Very fine side that packs a production impetus which could spark pop explosions."[1] *[Record World](/source/Record_World)* gave the single a four-star rating and said that "This is a super-dramatic production to set off Ed's big big voice, and the message will hit home."[7] They said that it "is sure to add some new fans to his already vast following."[6] Retrospectively, on the other hand, Greg Adams on [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) believed that the song "might have gone over well on a television variety show in 1969, but on record it wears thin fast and bears an unfortunate resemblance to the worst of [Jim Nabors](/source/Jim_Nabors)."[8]

## Chart performance

Trade ad made by [RCA Records](/source/RCA_Records) for the single.

"Leave Them a Flower" became an easy-listening success while missing the [pop charts](/source/Billboard_Hot_100).[3] It entered the *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* [Easy Listening](/source/Adult_Contemporary_(chart)) chart in the issue dated October 25, 1969, reaching number 19 during a five-week run on it.[2] It debuted on the *[Record World](/source/Record_World)* Top-Non Rock chart in the issue dated November 1, 1969, peaking at number 16 during a five-week run as well.[9] "Leave Them a Flower" achieved less adult contemporary success in Canada, where it was ranked at number 33 on the [*RPM* Adult Contemporary survey](/source/RPM_(magazine)).[10] It was his final top-20 on the American adult-oriented charts.[2]

## Charts

Chart performance for "Leave Them a Flower" by Ames Chart (1969) Peak position US Billboard Easy Listening[2] 19 US Record World Top-Non Rock[9] 16 Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary[10] 33

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cashbox_Review_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cashbox_Review_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Cashbox_Review_1-2) Albert, George (October 4, 1969). ["Record Reviews: *Picks of the Week*"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/60s/1969/CB-1969-10-04-OCR-Page-0020.pdf#search=%22ed%20ames%20leave%20them%20a%20flower%22) (PDF). *[Cashbox](/source/Cash_Box)*. Vol. XXX, no. 40. p. 26. Retrieved May 19, 2026 – via worldradiohistory.com.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EasyListening_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EasyListening_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-EasyListening_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-EasyListening_2-3) Whitburn, Joel (2007). [*Joel Whitburn presents Billboard top adult songs, 1961-2006*](https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnpres0000whit/page/10/mode/2up). Menomonee Falls, Wis. : Record Research Inc. p. 10. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-89820-169-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-89820-169-7). Retrieved May 19, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CashboxCharts2_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CashboxCharts2_3-1) Downey, Pat (1994). [*Cash box pop singles charts, 1950-1993*](https://archive.org/details/cashboxpopsingle00down/page/6/mode/2up). Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited. p. 6. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-56308-316-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-56308-316-7). Retrieved May 14, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Billboard_Review_4-0)** ["Album Reviews: A Billboard Pick"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1969/Billboard%201969-02-22-OCR-Page-0051.pdf#search=%22a%20time%20for%20living%20a%20time%20for%20hope%20ed%20ames%22) (PDF). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. February 22, 1969. p. 51. Retrieved April 30, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Liner_Notes_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Liner_Notes_5-1) Ames, Ed (September 1969). ""Leave Them a Flower"/"[(The) Love of the Common People](/source/Love_of_the_Common_People)" (7" single Information)". *[RCA Victor](/source/RCA_Records)*. 74-02536.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Record_World_Review2_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Record_World_Review2_6-1) ["Record World Singles Reviews: "Four Stars" (Second Review of "Leave Them a Flower")"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/69/Record-World-1969-11-01.pdf) (PDF). *[Record World](/source/Record_World)*. Vol. 24, no. 1168. November 1, 1969. p. 8. Retrieved May 19, 2026 – via worldradiohistory.com.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Record_World_Review_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Record_World_Review_7-1) ["Record World Singles Reviews: "Four Stars""](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/69/RW-1969-10-04.pdf) (PDF). *[Record World](/source/Record_World)*. Vol. 24, no. 1164. October 4, 1969. p. 6. Retrieved May 19, 2026 – via worldradiohistory.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AllMusic_8-0)** Adams, Greg. ["Ed Ames - Love of the Common People - Reviews and information"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/love-of-the-common-people-mw0000975297). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Retrieved May 19, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Record_World_Chart_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Record_World_Chart_9-1) ["Record World Singles Chart: Top Non-Rock"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/69/RW-1969-11-15.pdf) (PDF). *[Record World](/source/Record_World)*. Vol. 24, no. 1170. November 15, 1969. p. 14. Retrieved May 19, 2026 – via worldradiohistory.com.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-canada_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-canada_10-1) ["Searched: Ed Ames on the RPM charts"](https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Result?q_type_1=q&q_1=Ed%20ames&DataSource=Library%7CRPM&DataSourceSel=Library&ST=SAD&&tag=101149&). *[Library and Archives Canada](/source/Library_and_Archives_Canada)*. Retrieved May 19, 2026.

v t e Ed Ames Discography Studio albums Opening Night with Ed Ames (1964) The Ed Ames Album (1964) It's a Man's World (1965) My Kind of Songs (1965) More I Cannot Wish You (1966) My Cup Runneth Over (1967) Time, Time (1967) When the Snow Is on the Roses (1967) Who Will Answer? (1968) Sings Apologize (1968) The Hits of Broadway and Hollywood (1968) A Time for Living, a Time for Hope (1969) The Windmills of Your Mind (1969) Love of the Common People (1969) Sing Away the World (1970) Sings the Songs of Bacharach and David (1971) Ed Ames (1972) Remembers Jim Reeves (1972) Songs from "Lost Horizon" and Themes from Other Movies (1972) Compilation albums The Best of Ed Ames (1969) The Very Best of Ed Ames (2001) Singles "Before I Kiss the World Goodbye" "Try to Remember" "My Cup Runneth Over" "Time, Time" "Timeless Love" "When the Snow Is on the Roses" "Who Will Answer?" "Apologize" "All My Love's Laughter" "Kiss Her Now" "Changing, Changing" "Son of a Travelin' Man" "Think Summer" "Leave Them a Flower" "A Thing Called Love" "Three Good Reasons" "Chippewa Town" "And I Love You So" "Distant Drums" "Lost Horizon" "Butterflies Are Free"

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Leave Them a Flower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leave_Them_a_Flower) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leave_Them_a_Flower?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.