So this was in 1968...People, especially women, were just beginning to call out the hypocrisy in churches, schools, etc. Yeah, they were getting sick of that crap! Loretta Lynn came out years before Jeanie C. Riley, but was an influence, as you can tell.
Yes, the song "Harper Valley P.T.A." is based on a true story from the childhood of country artist Tom T. Hall: The story The song is about a single mother who challenges the social conventions of a small town by wearing a miniskirt to a PTA meeting and calling out the hypocrisy of the members. The inspiration Hall was inspired by a similar incident that he witnessed in the mid-1940s in Olive Hill, Kentucky. The mother of one of his classmates was criticized by the local school board members for her modern ways, and the school took out their frustrations on her daughter.  "Harper Valley P.T.A." was a 1968 hit for American country music and gospel singer Jeannie C. Riley. The song was written by Tom T. Hall and topped the charts in both the country and pop categories.
It was written by Tom T Hall. In interviews, Hall has said "Harper Valley P.T.A." is based on a true story from his childhood in Olive Hill, Ky. He says that a single mom was "a free spirit" who challenged the small town's social conventions. She too showed up at a PTA meeting and berated the members for their "indiscretions" and hypocrisy. The guitar was being played as a "slide guitar" AKA "Bottle Neck Guitar". Yes, some guitarist use an actual glass bottle neck that was cut off of a glass bottle. Others use a metal slide. Yes, you are correct there are other styles of slide guitars, including the pedal steel guitar.
My mother had a couple of run ins with school PTAs when I was a kid in the 60s. On military bases no less. They really would get up in your business. After this came out, many of the PTAs lost their clout. Took a few years, but I think they've re-invented themselves as HOA board members.
Tom T. Hall wrote this song in 1967 and in a interview he said it was a story about a young woman he met when he was 9 years old in his hometown. He wrote the song 30 years later. so this is a true story from the 1930's but the names were changed.
She mentioned Payton place was a soap opera in the sixties the characters where always cheating on each other country music is story telling music most of the story are autobiographical👏👏✌️❤️
Peyton Place referenced was a primetime drama (soap opera.) It was a precursor to Dallas, Knot's Landing, etc. Sock it to me was a popular saying in the '60s/70s.
This was still popular when I was a little girl, and not only does she look like my late mama, my mama went through these things and was a person to reckon with if anyone dared call her out over nonsense, lol.
The writer of this song was Tom T Hall. He was known for story telling songs. Please do my favorite of his, WEEK IN A COUNTRY JAIL. It's a real fun listen.
This was made into a TV movie with Barbara Eden ( Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie). There's a video/movie clip of this song with Barbara playing the part here on UA-cam.
There was a TV movie made based off this sound called Harper Valley PTA with Barbara Eden from the TV show I Dream of Jeannie. Such a hoot to watch the song be played out.
Just listen to the story she is singing to. This is a letter from the school PTA secretary to her. Her daughter came home and gave it to her mom. Listen to it and you will find out what she did to the school PTA meeting.
We had a “widow jones” near my home in the morning you could see her running around the house getting ready for work and she was usually naked even though her window didn’t have a curtain in front of it. What else could be better for a teenage boy look forward to seeing in the morning
The whole "Harper Valley PTA" album deals with life in a small town. I would strongly suggest you react to the song "Cotton Patch", another song from Jeannie C Riley from the same album.
I love that you love this, ace. I've always loved this song since I was a little kid and I've actually played it in front of live audiences several times, usually on the guitar but once actually on a stand up bass guitar. But I was in a situation where we would have this woman who was a fantastic singer and was about half my age, she was into Adele and things like that, but she was really good and we showed her this and she fell in love with it so sometimes she would come up and be a guest singer with us for a few Tunes? And this became one of them and it really always got the audience going and it was so fun to play.
The movie to this song was great I loved it and this song did well on its own but he movie shot it up all the way to the top now there’s a song that’s a part 2 of the Harper valley PTA people need to see both and hear both songs.
In 1993 my daughter came home from her friends house and told me just heard a song about me and it was this one😂 my kids school hated seeing me walk in the door 😂😂
It IS a true story but I think it’s connected to Tom T Hall. Check out the history. Loved this song when it came out and brings back some great memories!
The song was written by country singer Tom t Hall it's a fictional song. It wasn't a written about anybody specific. It's just a story that is relatable and could be about anybody
Big crossover to pop hit in 1968 among others in the 60s from Patsy Cline late 50s early 60s and many others when all genres of music evolving could have a hit song on the pop and Rock, Country, Motown among others into the top of the Pop charts. 70s also had many unique Country/Pop chart toppers many very funny story songs about the times/incidents going on then.
You need to play a hit song and then the Answer song. For an early empowered women this original was 1952 Hank Thompson , Wild Side of Life. The answer to that was "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" 1952 by Kitty Wells. Both to the tune of 1920s song I'm Thinking Tonight of my Blue Eyes', The Carter Family, A rocker pair might be Neil Young Southern Man... answered perhaps, by Lynyrd Skynyrd Sweet Home Alabama.
They turn this into a film I believe it was Barbara Eden that played that the lady that did her skirt too high or whatever it was on UA-cam and now I can't find it so maybe they took it off❤
I am from Sweden, and I like all kind of skilled music regardless of genre. One genre that has very little to offer me (maybe because American and Swedish folk music clash in tone) is C&W. (There is a scene in the movie "Blues Brothers" illustrating this clash) There are a number of good country songs, but usually at the edge of other genres. This is the only clear country song (to my ears) ̀that I found to be excellent. (and Ode to Billy Joe)
Please give a listen, if you've not done so yet, to Johnny Paycheck's "Take this job and shove it." It covers the blue collar man and his sisiphus like daily struggles of working payday to payday struggles to make ends meet.
Fun, huh? Check out The Kingston Trio...so many funny songs. Also, check out Eva Cassidy's Over The Rainbow. Eva died of ovarian cancer just as people were taking notice...her voice is a level of pure that will bring tears to your eyes!
I truly don't remember this from when I was like 6 yrs old.. but I went to Catholic school and one of the Nuns said you would go to Hell if you wore a mini skirt.. And my Mom wore mini skirts.. My mom had a heck of a time with me that day.. I was crying and inconsolable. Mom... you're going to Hell. My Mother lit into that Nun.
Tom T Hall is one you won't want to miss. The Year Clayton Delaney Died Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine A Week In A Country Jail The Ballad Of Fourty Dollars I could easily go on.
Oh my.. you just went from Loretta who truly wrote and sang songs about her life to this. I'm not sure if Jeanie lived this. I know Loretta lived it all what she sang lol
Love this song,also the movie with Barbara Eden,based on a true story.By Tom T. Hall whose mom was a free spirit,in Olive Hill,KY They are all hypocrits
Nah, artist's like this don't exist anymore. Nowadays "artists..." just say yah! a lot in a vaguely melodic ways. And then when people get sick of that, they switch to Oh, Woha, La, la, la. They definitely don't tell stories. They couldn't tell a story. Singers these days don't have the brain power. So they stick to whoa and la la la. And when a singer can actually tell a story, the ones that can't get jealous and cancel them.
So this was in 1968...People, especially women, were just beginning to call out the hypocrisy in churches, schools, etc. Yeah, they were getting sick of that crap! Loretta Lynn came out years before Jeanie C. Riley, but was an influence, as you can tell.
A Strong Mother❤❤
Makes me think of today's politics between right wingers and liberals.
@@karidrgnsomeone needs to sock it to the Moms for Liberty.
Yes, the song "Harper Valley P.T.A." is based on a true story from the childhood of country artist Tom T. Hall:
The story
The song is about a single mother who challenges the social conventions of a small town by wearing a miniskirt to a PTA meeting and calling out the hypocrisy of the members.
The inspiration
Hall was inspired by a similar incident that he witnessed in the mid-1940s in Olive Hill, Kentucky. The mother of one of his classmates was criticized by the local school board members for her modern ways, and the school took out their frustrations on her daughter.

"Harper Valley P.T.A." was a 1968 hit for American country music and gospel singer Jeannie C. Riley. The song was written by Tom T. Hall and topped the charts in both the country and pop categories.
Oh I so loved this song in 1968. A song about a very strong woman and mother
It was written by Tom T Hall. In interviews, Hall has said "Harper Valley P.T.A." is based on a true story from his childhood in Olive Hill, Ky. He says that a single mom was "a free spirit" who challenged the small town's social conventions. She too showed up at a PTA meeting and berated the members for their "indiscretions" and hypocrisy.
The guitar was being played as a "slide guitar" AKA "Bottle Neck Guitar". Yes, some guitarist use an actual glass bottle neck that was cut off of a glass bottle. Others use a metal slide. Yes, you are correct there are other styles of slide guitars, including the pedal steel guitar.
The great storyteller, Tom T. Hall.
Tom T Hall is the master storyteller!
Olive hill is my hometown 😂
@@Kentuckyhunter58Mr Hall used to walk my mom to school! she was from Olive Hill!
My mother had a couple of run ins with school PTAs when I was a kid in the 60s. On military bases no less. They really would get up in your business. After this came out, many of the PTAs lost their clout. Took a few years, but I think they've re-invented themselves as HOA board members.
Haha!, yep
😂😂😂😂😂😂
🤣😂🤣😂🤣
This was the first country song to top both the country and Rock billboard charts.
Tom T. Hall wrote this song in 1967 and in a interview he said it was a story about a young woman he met when he was 9 years old in his hometown. He wrote the song 30 years later. so this is a true story from the 1930's but the names were changed.
She mentioned Payton place was a soap opera in the sixties the characters where always cheating on each other country music is story telling music most of the story are autobiographical👏👏✌️❤️
She's the daughter and she's telling you how her momma handled things.
My Dad came of the bath with a towel to dance when this song came on our stereo! He's 95 now....we still this song.
Love this song. Love old country stars. They were more relatable. Great reaction Ace.
Peyton Place referenced was a primetime drama (soap opera.) It was a precursor to Dallas, Knot's Landing, etc. Sock it to me was a popular saying in the '60s/70s.
They turned this tune into a film.
And a TV show!
This was still popular when I was a little girl, and not only does she look like my late mama, my mama went through these things and was a person to reckon with if anyone dared call her out over nonsense, lol.
She is singing about her
momma
The writer of this song was Tom T Hall. He was known for story telling songs. Please do my favorite of his, WEEK IN A COUNTRY JAIL. It's a real fun listen.
Yesssss
"Edna Burgoo" - "Satan Place" - "Good Enough to Be Your Wife" I'll send you more if you need them!
This was made into a TV movie with Barbara Eden ( Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie). There's a video/movie clip of this song with Barbara playing the part here on UA-cam.
There was a TV movie made based off this sound called Harper Valley PTA with Barbara Eden from the TV show I Dream of Jeannie. Such a hoot to watch the song be played out.
Absolutely love the guitar playing!
Yes this was made into a movie too with Barbra Eden 🎉❤❤
Yes.... Ur rite😊 I'm a 56 yr woman. This is a Putting it in ur Face song!!! My Favorite. W Dolly P. I Will Always Love You❤
Ice - ice used to be delivered
Peyton Place - drama
Twist at the end - she's the daughter that brought the note home. Mrs. Johnson is her mom, a widow
Just listen to the story she is singing to. This is a letter from the school PTA secretary to her. Her daughter came home and gave it to her mom. Listen to it and you will find out what she did to the school PTA meeting.
The older country is fabulous ! Some say the country now is not real country.
But I love it all !!
We had a “widow jones” near my home in the morning you could see her running around the house getting ready for work and she was usually naked even though her window didn’t have a curtain in front of it. What else could be better for a teenage boy look forward to seeing in the morning
The whole "Harper Valley PTA" album deals with life in a small town. I would strongly suggest you react to the song "Cotton Patch", another song from Jeannie C Riley from the same album.
Great observation at the end! This really is a driven and bluesy funky song that just percolates along underneath her spunky delivery. ❤
Perfect song. Shows that those who do the most gossip, actually have their own skeletons they don't want found.
Also, sadly, the school systems are trying to actually influence the kids in a whole different direction.
I love that you love this, ace. I've always loved this song since I was a little kid and I've actually played it in front of live audiences several times, usually on the guitar but once actually on a stand up bass guitar. But I was in a situation where we would have this woman who was a fantastic singer and was about half my age, she was into Adele and things like that, but she was really good and we showed her this and she fell in love with it so sometimes she would come up and be a guest singer with us for a few Tunes? And this became one of them and it really always got the audience going and it was so fun to play.
After listening to this 100's of times I no longer hear the words. IT'S ALL ABOUT THAT DOBRO!
Loretta Lynn's "Fist City" or "Mad Mrs. Jesse Brown"
The movie to this song was great I loved it and this song did well on its own but he movie shot it up all the way to the top now there’s a song that’s a part 2 of the Harper valley PTA people need to see both and hear both songs.
In 1993 my daughter came home from her friends house and told me just heard a song about me and it was this one😂 my kids school hated seeing me walk in the door 😂😂
Apparently it is about herself and her mother along with the Harper Valley PTA.
It IS a true story but I think it’s connected to Tom T Hall. Check out the history. Loved this song when it came out and brings back some great memories!
An oldie but a goodie ❤❤❤
I think Tom T Hall wrote this song. I know it wasn’t written by Jeanie but she did a great job with it.
This one is a classic.
I saw her sing this live.
my grandma ♥ that song! very catchy!
The song was written by country singer Tom t Hall it's a fictional song. It wasn't a written about anybody specific. It's just a story that is relatable and could be about anybody
Dobro is the most popular brand of resonator guitar and is usually just referred to as Dobro regardless of the brand being played.
Big crossover to pop hit in 1968 among others in the 60s from Patsy Cline late 50s early 60s and many others when all genres of music evolving could have a hit song on the pop and Rock, Country, Motown among others into the top of the Pop charts. 70s also had many unique Country/Pop chart toppers many very funny story songs about the times/incidents going on then.
Old country is storytelling set to music.
Jeannie did a sequel called "Return to Harper Valley" which is about more modern issues. You should give it a listen. BTW, great reaction :).
Absolutely Love This Song!!
I think this was made into a TV show staring Barbara Eden.. I think this was written by To T. Hall.
The guitar is called a resonator or a dobro guitar
You need to play a hit song and then the Answer song. For an early empowered women this original was 1952 Hank Thompson , Wild Side of Life. The answer to that was "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" 1952 by Kitty Wells. Both to the tune of 1920s song I'm Thinking Tonight of my Blue Eyes', The Carter Family,
A rocker pair might be Neil Young Southern Man... answered perhaps, by Lynyrd Skynyrd Sweet Home Alabama.
You need to find the old movie! Sooooo funny, especially this part!
They turn this into a film I believe it was Barbara Eden that played that the lady that did her skirt too high or whatever it was on UA-cam and now I can't find it so maybe they took it off❤
I am from Sweden, and I like all kind of skilled music regardless of genre. One genre that has very little to offer me (maybe because American and Swedish folk music clash in tone) is C&W. (There is a scene in the movie "Blues Brothers" illustrating this clash) There are a number of good country songs, but usually at the edge of other genres. This is the only clear country song (to my ears) ̀that I found to be excellent. (and Ode to Billy Joe)
hank jr. ...Country State of Mind....
Probably where I first heard about hypocrites
If you haven't seen it yet I highly recommend Bobbie Gentry Ode to Billy Joe
I love this song!❤
Please give a listen, if you've not done so yet, to Johnny Paycheck's "Take this job and shove it."
It covers the blue collar man and his sisiphus like daily struggles of working payday to payday struggles to make ends meet.
Fun, huh? Check out The Kingston Trio...so many funny songs. Also, check out Eva Cassidy's Over The Rainbow. Eva died of ovarian cancer just as people were taking notice...her voice is a level of pure that will bring tears to your eyes!
LOL you're doing a bunch of groovy ones tonight cool❤
Love your reaction🎉🎉❤❤
I truly don't remember this from when I was like 6 yrs old.. but I went to Catholic school and one of the Nuns said you would go to Hell if you wore a mini skirt.. And my Mom wore mini skirts.. My mom had a heck of a time with me that day.. I was crying and inconsolable. Mom... you're going to Hell. My Mother lit into that Nun.
❤
Tom T Hall is one you won't want to miss.
The Year Clayton Delaney Died
Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine
A Week In A Country Jail
The Ballad Of Fourty Dollars
I could easily go on.
Shoeshine Man
It's very relevant still.
Oh my.. you just went from Loretta who truly wrote and sang songs about her life to this. I'm not sure if Jeanie lived this. I know Loretta lived it all what she sang lol
Also try ( The Devil Went Down to Georgia)By The Charlie Daniels Band
Catch the movie
I've never heard of it being true. It was written by Tom T. Hall.
Now you have to react to "return to Harper Valley"
I’ll have to see the movie
Love this song,also the movie with Barbara Eden,based on a true story.By Tom T. Hall whose mom was a free spirit,in Olive Hill,KY They are all hypocrits
You should watch the movie starring Barbara Eden.
Folk rock also has a lot of story tellers. I suggest Gordon Lightfoot and Bob Seager as examples.
Try listening to (The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia) by Reba MacIntyre ❤❤
Tom t hall wrote this song
Check out the Pill by Loretta
Listen to Chris Stapleton Cold I think you might like it
LOL now watch the movie😂😂😂😂
Jeannie C Riley was hotter than a two dollar pistol LOL she was gorgeous
If you want to hear a country song check out David Allan coe's song you don't even call me by my name it is the perfect country song
A lot of songs are not about the singer's life. PTA= Parent Teacher Association.
Nah, artist's like this don't exist anymore. Nowadays "artists..." just say yah! a lot in a vaguely melodic ways. And then when people get sick of that, they switch to Oh, Woha, La, la, la. They definitely don't tell stories. They couldn't tell a story. Singers these days don't have the brain power. So they stick to whoa and la la la. And when a singer can actually tell a story, the ones that can't get jealous and cancel them.
Sometimes songs don’t have a direct relation to the singer.
They don't make artists like this anymore
Steel guitar.
BURN.🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
There was a made for tv movie with the story starring Barbara Eden😍
Please do not even try to compare the songs of yesteryear to hip hop or rap.Please.
Great reaction just don't EVER listen to return to Harper Valley P.T.A.They took all the snarkiness out,made it too nice and ruined it 💔🤣
Ok haper
Steel guitar....
Dobro
❤