Grandma Harp

"Grandma Harp"
Single by Merle Haggard
from the album Let Me Tell You About a Song
B-side "Turning Off a Memory"
Released March 20, 1972
Format 7"
Recorded November 18, 1971
Hollywood, California
Genre Country
Label Capitol 3198
Writer(s) Merle Haggard
Producer(s) Ken Nelson
Merle Haggard singles chronology
"Carolyn"
(1971)
"Grandma Harp"/"Turning Off a Memory"
(1972)
"It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)"
(1972)

"Grandma Harp" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released in March 1972 as the second single from the album Let Me Tell You About a Song. "Grandma Harp" was Merle Haggard's 12th No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in May 1972, staying atop the chart for two weeks, and spending a total 14 weeks in the top 40.[1]

Content

The song is a reflection of a young man's grandmother - the family matriarch and title character, Zone Villines (aka "Grandma Harp"), who was born in Newton County, Arkansas, and lived for 90 years. The protagonist (who sings the song in first person) says that her life story can be told in only a few short lines, but reflects on how Grandma Harp (along with Grandpa, whom she married in 1901) was a rock that held the family together.

Chart performance

Chart (1972) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 5

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 147.

External links

Preceded by
"Chantilly Lace"
by Jerry Lee Lewis
Billboard Hot Country Singles
number-one single

May 13-May 20, 1972
Succeeded by
"(Lost Her Love) On Our Last Date"
by Conway Twitty
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