Harper Valley PTA - guitar chords and comments

Lyrics without distraction HERE

Singer-songwriter Tom T. Hall [Thomas Hall, 1936–2021] was no inventive composer, but really clever and effective with words, and fully deserved his nickname "The Storyteller". I 1968 he wrote this story about hypocrisy in a small city. Fiction, but he sure had references. First recording was by Bobbi Martin in April 1968. In August, it was released as the debut single of Jeannie C. Riley, and it became an international hit, crossover, up to date covered 117 times and adapted 14 times into several languages. Hall himself probably never recorded it; it's not even found on compilation albums. In Norway the song resulted in a serious debate in the Parliament! Journalist and author Terje Mosnes wrote a masterpiece of adaption called "Fru Johnsen". Reactionary Christians - they were politically rather strong at that time - wanted it banned because of the content, and only a fistful of votes avoided such a disaster. Maybe the line "fordi min skjørtekant er nærmere den himmel dere aldri kommer til" [because my skirt hem is nearer the Heaven than you will ever be] was hard to swallow, but they had to. It became the signature song for artist Inger-Lise Andersen (later Rypdal), and is still played now and then. It sold far better than Riley's version. And today, that political party has turned monk. Legacy:
• "Harper Valley" : A small gossipy city with moral duplicity ANYWHERE; name inspired by "Harpeth Valley Elementary" in the Nashville area.
• "PTA" or "P.T.A." : Parent Teacher Association.
• "Peyton Place" : A contemporary TV show, based on an earlier novel by Grace Metalious.
• "socked it to" : Sock-it-to-me was a catchphrase from the comedy show "Laugh In" late '60s.

A                                                            A7
I wanna tell you all the story 'bout a Harper Valley widowed wife
           D7
who had a teenage daughter who attended Harper Valley Junior High
          A                                                        A7
well her daughter came home one afternoon and didn't even stop to play
               D7                             E7            A
and she said   Mom I got a note here from the Harper Valley PTA

A7 ... Edim ... G7

      C                                                         C7
no I wouldn't put you on because it really did happen just this way
     F7                           G7            C
the day my mama socked it to the Harper Valley PTA