60-talets hits: Jeannie C. Riley!

Harper Valley PTA med Jeannie C. Riley skrevs av Tom T Hall och blev en stor hit 1968. En skön countrylåt med popkänsla. Hon låg faktiskt etta både på den amerikanska country- och poplistan, den första kvinna som lyckats med den bedriften. Förutom att låten svängde var det texten folk reagerade på. Den handlar om en tonårselev som får en lapp hem från PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) där det står att hennes mamma, som är änka, har för kort kjol och strular runt med män och det passar sig inte och blablabla. Hycklare, sjunger Jeannie C. Riley och drämmer till hela bunten:

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 a-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 can 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 times he’s asked me for a date.
And Mrs. Taylor sure 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 all 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, it happened 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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