Harper Valley Pta
Jeannie C. Riley
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I wanna tell you all a story 'bout a Harper Valley widowed wife, Who had a teenage daughter who attended Harper Valley Junior High, Well her daughter came home one afternoon and didn't even stop to play, And she said."Mom I got a note here from the Harper Valley PTA." Well the note said, "Mrs. Johnson, you're wearing your dresses way too high It's reported you've been drinkin' and runnin' round with men and goin' wild And we don't believe you oughta be a bringin' up your little girl this way." And it was signed by the secretary, "Harper Valley PTA." Well it happened that the PTA was gonna meet that very afternoon And they were sure surprised when Mrs. Johnson wore her mini-skirt into the room And as she walked up to the black board, I still recall the words she had to say She said I'd like to address this meeting of the Harper Valley PTA Well, there's Bobby Taylor sittin' there, and seven tims he's asked me for a date And Mrs. Taylor seems to use a lotta ice, whenever he's away And Mr. Baker can you tell us why your secretary had to leave this town? And shouldn't widow Jones be told to keep her window shades a pulled completely down Well Mr. Harper couldn't be here cause he stayed too long at Kelly's Bar again And if you smell Shirley Thompson's breath you'll find she's had a little nip of gin And then you have the nerve to tell me, you think that as a mother I'm not fit Well this is just a little Peyton Place, and you're all Harper Valley hypocrites No, I wouldn't put you on because, it really did happen just this way The day my momma socked it to, the Harper Valley PTA The day my momma socked it to, the Harper Valley PTA
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Written by: Tom T. Hall
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Songwriter Origin"Harper Valley PTA" was written by Tom T. Hall, a popular country music songwriter and singer known for his storytelling style.
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Jeannie C. RileyThe song was first recorded by Jeannie C. Riley, an American country music and gospel singer. It is perhaps her most famous song and helped to catapult her into stardom.
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Chart SuccessWhen Jeannie C. Riley released the song in 1968, it reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has the unique distinction of being the first song performed by a woman to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and the U.S. Hot Country Singles charts.
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Dolly Parton's VersionCountry music icon Dolly Parton later covered the song in 1984 for her "The Great Pretender" album.
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Television AdaptationThe song inspired a 1978 movie and a subsequent television series, both titled "Harper Valley PTA".
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Grammy AwardJeannie C. Riley's rendition of the song earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1968.
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Satirical ThemeThe song is well known for its satirical take on small-town gossip and hypocrisy. The song's protagonist, a single mother, rebukes members of the local Parent Teacher Association (PTA) for criticizing her lifestyle while having their own hidden vices.
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Song's Impact"Harper Valley PTA" can be seen as a significant depiction of the feminist and counterculture movements happening in the late 1960s.
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The Song TodayEven today, "Harper Valley PTA" remains one of the most popular and iconic songs in the history of country music, and it is still performed and covered by various artists.
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Induction into Grammy Hall of Fame"Harper Valley PTA" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021, a testament to its enduring legacy in the world of music.
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Citation
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"Harper Valley Pta Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/19498429/Jeannie+C.+Riley/Harper+Valley+Pta>.
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