Harper Valley P.t.a.

· by Jeannie C. Riley

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Lyrics

I want to tell you all a sto ry ’bout a Har per Val ley wid owed wife, too high.

who had a (G7)teen ed age been daugh ter who at tend ed Har per Val ley Jun ior High.

And Well, her (D7)daugh ter came home ought one af ter noon, and did n’t e ven stop to play.

She She said, (G7)“Mom, I got a note here from the (A7)Har per Val ley P.

T.

P.

A.” (D7)A.”

Well, The note said, “Mis sus John son, A.

you’re wear ing your that dress es way ter noon.

who It’s re (G7)port sur you’ve when drink ing and a run nin’ ’round with men and go ing wild.

And And we (D7)don’t be lieve you black to be a bring ing up your lit tle girl this way.”

She It was (G7)signed I by the sec re tar y, (A7)Har per Val ley P.

T.

P.

A.

(D7)A.”

Well, it

“Well, there’s (Eb7)Bob by Tay lor sit tin’ there, and sev en times he’s asked me for a date.

And Mis sus (Ab7)Tay lor sure seems Thomp to use a lot of ice when ev er he’s a way.

And Mis ter (Eb7)Bak er, can you tell us why your sec re tar y had to leave this town?

And should n’t (Ab7)wid ow Jones be told to keep her (Bb7)win dow shades all pulled com plete ly (Eb7)down?”

“Well, Mis ter (Eb7)Har per could n’t be here ’cause he stayed too long at Kel ley’s Bar a gain.

And if you (Ab7)smell lor Shir ley Thomp son’s breath, you’ll find she’s had a lit tle nip of gin.

And Then you (Eb7)have the nerve to tell me cause you think that as a moth er I’m not fit.

Well, this is (Ab7)just a lit tle Pey ton Place, and (Bb7)you’re all Har per Val ley hyp o (Eb7)crites.”

“Well, Mis ter

No, I

The day my (Ab7)Ma ma socked it to the (Bb7)Har per Val ley P.

T.

A.

Harper Valley P.t.a. by Jeannie C. Riley — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Harper Valley P.t.a.” by Jeannie C. Riley in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of D at 100 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Harper Valley P.t.a." good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Harper Valley P.t.a."?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
What other Jeannie C. Riley songs work for kids?: Try "HARPER VALLEY P.T.A.". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.