Jeannie C. Riley performs "A Country Girl's Lament"

Jeannie C. Riley (born Jeanne Carolyn Stephenson; October 19, 1945) is an American country music and gospel singer.

 

She is best known for her 1968 country and pop hit "Harper Valley PTA" (written by Tom T. Hall), which missed (by one week) becoming the Billboard Country and Pop number one hit at the same time.

 

In subsequent years, she had moderate chart success with country music, but never again duplicated the success of "Harper Valley PTA". She became a born-again Christian and began recording gospel music during the late 1970s.

Jeannie C  Riley A Country Girl's Lament Lyrics

 

Is there still room at the top for a country girl

Is there still a place for good old fashioned ways

Can this modern, complex world

Understand a simple girl

Or shall I sing forever of yesterday?

 

I sang my song on the mountaintop

The wind and the trees kept time with me

I sang my song in the valley below

And all the little birds sang my melody

I sang my song to my sweet Lord above

And He let the angels sing with me

The gates of Heaven

He threw open wide

But the world shut its door to my melody

 

Is there still room at the top for a country girl

Is there still a place for good old fashioned ways

Can this modern, complex world

Understand a simple girl

Or shall I sing forever of yesterday?

 

I won’t muddy my stream of inspiration for a meal

I won’t cast my pearls before swine

I’d rather starve to death

Than to later regret

That I sold my soul for a dime

 

Is there still room at the top for a country girl

Is there still a place for good old fashioned ways

Can this modern, complex world

Understand a simple girl

Or shall I sing forever of yesterday?