About the song
Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley P.T.A.” was a cultural touchstone of the late 1960s, a satirical anthem that resonated with women seeking liberation and equality. Released in 1967, the song quickly topped the charts, becoming a symbol of female empowerment and a critique of small-town hypocrisy.
The song’s narrative unfolds from the perspective of a woman named Mrs. Johnson, a single mother living in the idyllic town of Harper Valley. She’s a hardworking and respectable citizen, but her life is turned upside down when she’s accused of “living in sin” by the local Parent-Teacher Association (P.T.A.). The P.T.A., a seemingly upstanding group of women, is actually rife with petty gossip and double standards.
Riley’s lyrics are both humorous and poignant, as she skewers the hypocrisy of the P.T.A. members. She sings about their “fancy hats” and “long false eyelashes,” while also highlighting their judgmental attitudes and narrow-mindedness. The song’s chorus, “Harper Valley P.T.A., you’re a bunch of hypocrites,” is a rallying cry for women who have been unfairly judged or mistreated.
“Harper Valley P.T.A.” was more than just a catchy tune; it was a cultural commentary that captured the spirit of the times. It resonated with women who were tired of being treated as second-class citizens and who were demanding greater respect and equality. The song’s success helped to pave the way for the women’s rights movement, and it continues to be celebrated as a classic of country music.
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Lyrics
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 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 the 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