Merle Haggard – Grandma Harp, is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in March 1972 as the second single from the album Let Me Tell You About a Song. The song was Merle Haggard and The Strangers’ twelfth number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in May 1972, remaining at the top of the chart for two weeks, and spending a total of 14 weeks in the top 40.

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

Merle Haggard – Grandma Harp
From the album Let Me Tell You About a Song
B-side «Turning Off a Memory.»
Released March 20, 1972
Recorded on November 18, 1971
Hollywood, California
Genre Country
Duration 2:12
Capitol 3198 Record Label
Composer(s) Merle Haggard
Producer(s) Ken Nelson

COUNTRYPEDIA

Merle Haggard – Grandma Harp Lyrics

[Chorus]
Grandma’s maiden name was Zombelines
There’s ninety years to tell about in a few short lines
Born in Newton County down in Arkansas
Then in nineteen-and-one, she married Grandpa
We laid her soul to rest one Sunday morning
And everybody knew she’d done her part
Don’t get set to hear no hidden family legend
Just a song about the life of Grandma Harp

[Verse]
Just think about the times that she lived through
And think about the changing world she saw
Now somehow she reared a decent family out of poverty
And for seventy years, she loved the same old Grandpa
To me, her passing brought a closing chapter
To a way of life that I loved within my heart
I just mean to say, I think we owe her something special
If just a song about the life of Grandma Harp

[Chorus]
Grandma’s maiden name was Zombelines
There’s ninety years to tell about in a few short lines
Born in Newton County down in Arkansas
Then in nineteen-and-one, she married Grandpa
We laid her soul to rest one Sunday morning
And everybody knew she’d done her part
Don’t get set to hear no hidden family legend
Just a song about the life of Grandma Harp

GENIUS