Return To Harper Valley

Melody by Tom Hall; Lyrics by Jeannie C. Riley

Y'all remember Harper Valley

And the Harper Valley PTA

Well, have you ever wondered where they are

And what those folks are doin' today

Now, things have changed a lot,

But we all seem to understand things better by and by

Now, my daughter is the mother of two children

At the Harper Valley High

Well, the daughter came to see me

Sellin' tickets for the high school dance

I could win a brand new album by some Stray Cats

If I'd only buy a chance

Well, I bought the tickets and the chance

To win a brand new rock 'n' roll LP

And when Friday came, I walked into the place

My dress was well below my knees

Now, Mr. Harper took my ticket and

He smiled at me sober as a judge

Shirley Thompson, she was there with him

She shook my hand and then gave me a hug

Ya know, they're married now, and my,

They look so happy and contented side by side

And to my surprise, Bobby Taylor never

Took his eyes off of his wife

Mr. Baker stirred the punch

It was lemonade with nothin' on the side

His secretary smiled at me

And said she was so happy as his bride

Widow Jones is dead, she and a young kid

Missed a curve on Lover's Lane

Mr. Kelley's gone, he drank until

They said it took his liver and his brain

Now, the music started up

And it was louder than a thunder storm in May

Well, I stood there and I laughed

To see the way the kids all get their kicks today

Then I saw a man who gave a cigarette

To some small kid too young to smoke

He was a full-grown man and he was set up

In the parkin' lot sellin' dope

Well, I walked around the place

And saw the drummer sniffin' powder up his nose

Then I walked out through the parkin' lot

And saw these kids were takin' off their clothes

They were drinkin' beer and poppin' pills

And actin' like they were all havin' fun

I got so mad, I thought at first I'd go

Back to the house and get a gun

Then I went back to my home and took

My Bible out and said a little prayer

Now, tomorrow, I can tell 'em that

God loves 'em and I tell 'em that I care

I think back fifteen years ago when

I was wild and wore a mini skirt

Ain't no way I can explain the things I did

Or the people that I hurt

Well, the music keeps on ringin' in my ears

And I can hear the drummer's beat

I can see the way things are and I can see

The way the kids are thinkin' needs

Well, tomorrow afternoon, the PTA'll meet

And I got things to say

To a brand new generation of the Harper Valley PTA

To a brand new generation of the Harper Valley PTA