From local NPR affiliate KRCU, Cape Girardeau, Missouri:
“NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tom T. Hall, the singer-songwriter who composed “Harper Valley P.T.A.” and sang about life’s simple joys as country music’s consummate blue-collar bard, has died. He was 85.
His son, Dean Hall, confirmed the musician’s death on Friday at his home in Franklin, Tenn. Known as “The Storyteller” for his unadorned yet incisive lyrics, Hall composed hundreds of songs.”
As NPR correctly points out Tom T. Hall composed hundreds of songs but one particular song penned by Hall holds a special place in my heart.
When I was a young child my grandmother worked second shift at a local hospital in Chaffee, Missouri. Like many women of her era, Grandma never learned to drive, so my father would often have to pick her up when her work day was over and in the summertime when school was out of session, I would often ride with him.
Our entertainment on the drive was AM radio. I was fascinated at the stations from across America we could pick up at night, Chicago, New Orleans and all points in between. No matter the location of the station our car radio landed on, the format was the same, Country music.
One of the more popular songs of the time was Tom T. Hall’s “I Love”. I learned this song by singing it with Dad on those drives.
“I love little baby ducks, old pick-up trucks
Slow movin’ trains and rain
I love little country streams, sleep without dreams
Sunday school in May and hay
And I love you too…”
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