About the song
**Loretta Lynn** is a name synonymous with country music. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, in 1932, Lynn’s life was shaped by hardscrabble living and a deep-rooted connection to her Appalachian heritage. Her music reflected the realities of rural life, often exploring themes of love, loss, and the challenges faced by women.
One of Lynn’s most iconic songs, **”Harper Valley P.T.A.”**, is a powerful anthem of female empowerment and defiance. Released in 1967, the song quickly became a chart-topping hit, solidifying Lynn’s status as a trailblazing figure in country music.
**Harper Valley P.T.A.** is a fictional town where the women of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) hold sway over the community. The song’s protagonist, a single mother named “Mrs. Johnson,” is unfairly judged by the town’s elite women because of her unconventional lifestyle. They gossip about her, spreading rumors and making unfounded accusations.
Lynn’s lyrics cleverly subvert traditional gender roles and societal expectations. She paints a vivid picture of a woman who refuses to conform to the narrow confines of domesticity. Mrs. Johnson is not a passive victim; she is a strong and independent individual who stands up for herself and challenges the hypocrisy of the PTA women.
Video
Lyrics
I wanna tell you all the 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 wearin’ your dresses way too high
It’s reported you’ve been drinking
And a-running 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 miniskirt into the room
And as she walked up to the blackboard
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 mama socked it to the Harper Valley PTA
The day my mama socked it to the Harper Valley PTA