Harper Valley P.T.A.
Harper Valley Revelation: A Mother's Stand Against Small-Town Hypocrisy
Lyrics
I wanna tell you all the story 'bout
I want to share a story about
A Harper Valley widowed wife
A widow in Harper Valley
Who had a teenage daughter
Her teenage daughter
Who attended Harper Valley Junior High
Attending Harper Valley Junior High
Well, her daughter came home one afternoon
Daughter came home, didn't stop to play
And didn't even stop to play
Announced receiving a note from PTA
And she said, "mom, I got a note here from the Harper Valley PTA"
Note: "Mrs. Johnson, dresses too high, reported drinking and running wild"
Well, the note said, "Mrs. Johnson
Note addressing Mrs. Johnson
You're wearin' your dresses way too high
Accusation of wearing dresses too high
It's reported you've been drinking
Reported drinking and running around with men
And a-running round with men and goin' wild
Implying inappropriate behavior
And we don't believe you oughta be a-bringin' up
Questioning her parenting
Your little girl this way"
Disapproval of Mrs. Johnson's influence on her daughter
And it was signed by the Secretary
Signed by the Secretary, Harper Valley PTA
Harper Valley PTA
Source of the note
Well, it happened that the PTA was gonna meet
PTA meeting scheduled
That very afternoon
Surprise at Mrs. Johnson's attire
And they were sure surprised
During the meeting
When Mrs. Johnson wore her miniskirt into the room
Mrs. Johnson wearing a miniskirt
And as she walked up to the blackboard
Mrs. Johnson addressing the PTA
I can still recall the words she had to say
Recalling her words to the meeting
She said, "I'd like to address this meeting of the Harper Valley PTA
Mrs. Johnson addressing the Harper Valley PTA
Well, there's Bobby Taylor sittin' there
Referring to Bobby Taylor's advances
And seven times he's asked me for a date
Bobby Taylor's repeated date requests
And Mrs. Taylor sure seems to use a lotta ice
Mrs. Taylor's ice use when he's away
Whenever he's away
Implies suspicion of infidelity
And Mr. Baker can you tell us why
Asking Mr. Baker about the secretary leaving
Your secretary had to leave this town?
Raising suspicions about Mr. Baker's secretary
And shouldn't widow Jones be told to keep
Suggesting Widow Jones be discreet
Her window shades all pulled completely down
Concerns about Widow Jones' privacy
Well, Mr. Harper couldn't be here
Mr. Harper absent due to time at Kelly's Bar
'Cause he stayed too long at Kelly's Bar again
Highlighting Mr. Harper's behavior
And if you smell Shirley Thompson's breath
Noting Shirley Thompson's alcohol consumption
You'll find she's had a little nip of gin
Implying Shirley Thompson's drinking habit
And then you have the nerve to tell me
Expressing anger at the PTA's judgment
You think that as a mother I'm not fit
Rejecting the PTA's criticism of her motherhood
Well, this is just a little Peyton Place
Comparing the town to a scandalous soap opera
And you're all Harper Valley hypocrites"
Labeling the PTA as hypocrites
No, I wouldn't put you on because it really did
Denying fabrication, insisting it happened this way
It happened just this way
Reiterating the truth of the events
The day my mama socked it to the Harper Valley PTA
Describing the day her mother confronted the PTA
The day my mama socked it to the Harper Valley PTA
Recalling the day her mother stood up to the Harper Valley PTA
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