When their 1966 crossover hit "Flowers on the Wall" was used in the 1994 movie Pulp Fiction, the Statler Brothers enjoyed a deserved career resurgence. The song's ironic denial ranks with George Jones' "She Thinks I Still Care" as one of country music's most vivid descriptions of a bitter reject trying to convince himself of his indifference toward his ex-lover. As Flowers on the Wall aptly demonstrates, the Statler Brothers' influence on country music extends to nearly every vocal harmony act that followed them. The Oak Ridge Boys are often cited as the most prominent disciples, and it's easy to trace the inspiration for their bass-vocal-hooked signature song, "Elvira," to the precedent of Harold Reid's deep, robust instrument. Equally adept at country, gospel, and pop, the voices of Phil Balsley, Lew DeWitt, and brothers Harold and Don Reid soar gracefully above diverse arrangements which run the gamut from near-a cappella minimalism to a rollicking mix of banjo, ukulele, and piano. Unlike many '60s albums, wherein the featured single is surrounded by inappropriate, lackluster remakes of the current hit parade, Flowers on the Wall balances its well-chosen cover material with original compositions that match the quality of the title smash. Having reached national prominence with the assistance of Johnny Cash, it's fitting that the group pays tribute by recording a lovely, mariachi-flavored version of Cash's "I Still Miss Someone." Roger Miller is another obvious influence, and the group not only revitalizes his "King of the Road" with their trademark harmony vocals, but also offers their own charming, Miller-inspired novelty entitled "The Doodlin' Song" (sample lyric: "does a stink weed really stink/and how far down does a kitchen sink?"). From the painful melancholy of "My Reward" to Tom T. Hall's cautionary tale of "Billy Christian," the Statler Brothers display remarkable versatility, especially for a debut album. Highly recommended, Flowers on the Wall is one of those rare musical treasures which bridges the gaps between several genres and generations."
THE STATLER BROTHERS
FLOWERS ON THE WALL
Columbia CS-9249January 3/1966
Produced by Don Law
Recorded:1965, Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville
1.
FLOWERS ON THE WALL
(Lew DeWitt) « © '65 Unichappell Music, BMI / Wallflower Music, BMI »I've been hearin' you're concerned about my happiness
But all that thought you're givin' me is conscience I guess
If I were walkin' in your shoes I wouldn't worry none
While you and your friends are worryin' bout me I'm havin' lots of fun
Countin' flowers on the wall that don't bother me at all
Playin' solitare till dawn with a deck of fifty one
Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo
Now don't tell me I've nothing to do
Last night I dressed in tails pretended I was on the town
As long as I can dream it's hard to slow this swinger down
So please don't give a thought to me I'm really doin' fine
You can always find me here and havin' quite a time
Countin' flowers on the wall...
It's good to see you I must go I know I look a fright
Anyway my eyes are not accustomed to this light
And my shoes are not accustomed to this hard concrete
So I must go back to my room and make my day complete
Countin' flowers on the wall...
Now don't tell me I've nothing to do
**********
2.
MY DARLING HILDGARD
(Don Reid) « © '66 House Of Cash, BMI »Darling Hildegard
Bum bum bum bum bum bum bum ba ba ba ba ba
Bum ba ba um ba ba buma
Um ba ba bum ba ba bum ba ba um ba ba
There was a lock on the gate in the front a your house all day
It could then have been out there for me to stay away
Is that my name carved on a dead tree in your yard
Why you treatin' me like this my darling Hildegard
Bum bum bum bum bum bum...
That go home yankee sign on your front door
Well I think that was a little bit uncalled for
And my photo on the birdhouse was a cute jesture
Course I got the message but wasn't that a good picture of me
Bum bum bum bum bum bum...
My darling Hildegard please don't be mad
I'll give you everything you've never had
If you'll tear down all those signs and disreguard
All those things you think of me my darling Hildegard
Darling Hildegard
**********
3.
KING OF THE ROAD
(Roger Miller) « © '64 Tree Publishing, BMI »Trailers for sale or rent rooms to left fifty cents
No phone no pool no pets I ain't got no cigarettes
But two hours of pushing broom buys a eight by twelve four bit room
I'm a man of means by no means king of the road
Third bocxcar midnight train destination Bangor Maine
Old worn out suit and shoes I don't pay no union dues
I smoke old stogies I have found short but not too big around
I'm a man of means by no means king of the road
I know every engineer on every train
All of the children and all of their names
And every handout in every town
And every lock that ain't locked when no one's around
Trailers for sale or rent...
King of the road king of the road
**********
4.
MEMPHIS TENNESSEE
(Chuck Berry) « © '63 Arc Music, BMI »Long distance information get me Memphis Tennessee
Help me find the party try to get in touch with me
She could not leave her number but I know who placed the call
My uncle took the message and he wrote it on the wall
Help me operator get in touch with my Marie
She's the only one who's called me here from Memphis Tennessee
Her home is on the southside high up on a ridge
Just a half a mile from the Mississippi Bridge
The last time I saw Marie she was waving me goodbye
Hurry home drops on her cheeks that trickled from her eyes
We were torn apart because her mom would not agree
Tore apart our happy home in Memphis Tennessee
Help me operator more than this I cannot add
Only that I miss her and all the fun we had
Marie is only six years old get the message please
Help me put me through to her in Memphis Tennessee
**********
5.
I'M NOT QUITE THROUGH CRYING
(Lew DeWitt) « © '66 Unichappell Music, BMI / Wallflower Music, BMI »Perhaps I outta mingle with the crowd just a little bit more
Perhaps I outta find somebody new
Perhaps I outta hang a happy sign on my front door
But I'm not quite through crying over you not quite
I'm not quite through crying over you
I'd kinda like to throw a party and have a little fun tonight
Have some laughs invite a friend or two
If I could just get started I could have some fun alright
But I'm not quite through crying over you just yet
I'm not quite through crying over you
It ain't no trouble for a happy heart happy heart
A laughin' habit sounds a happy fling happy fling
My friends all call me ole worry wart
But they don't know the trouble that a broken heart can bring
I know several girls to call they'd really be glad to go
And I could wend a heart before the night was through
But I just have to make believe that I'm a happy Joe
And I'm not quite through crying over you not quite
I'm not quite through crying over you
[ guitar ] It ain't no trouble for a happy heart happy heart...
I know several girls to call they'd really be glad to go
And I could wend a heart before the night was through
But I just have to make believe that I'm a happy Joe
And I'm not quite through cryin' over you, not quite.
I know several girls to call they'd really be glad to go
And I could wend a heart before the night was through
But I just have to make believe that I'm a happy Joe
And I'm not quite through crying over you not quite
I'm not quite through crying over you almost
I'm not quite through crying over you just about
I'm not quite through crying over you
**********
6.
MY REWARD
(Allen Roberts) « © '66 Allen Roberts Music, ASCAP »Heartaches and tears so many wasted years
Is that my reward for loving you
While I played fair your heart roamed everywhere
Is that my reward for being true
We told our old gang of wedding plans for spring
But the choir never sang and the Church bells didn't ring
Now you laugh and joke about the heart you broke
Is that my reward for loving you
Heartaches and tears so many wasted years...
We told our old gang of wedding plans for spring...
Is that my reward for loving you
**********
7.
THIS OLE HOUSE
(Stuart Hamblen) « © '54 Hamblen Music, ASCAP »Well I ain't a gonna need this house no longer ain't a gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges nor to mingle the window panes
I ain't gonna need this house no longer I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints
Well this ole house once knew my children this house once knew my wife
This ole house was joy and comfort as we fought the storms of life
This ole house once rang with laughter this ole house heard many a shouts
But now trembles in the darkness oh when the lightnin' walks about
I ain't a gonna need this house no longer...
[ piano ] Now my old hound dog lies a sleepin' he don't know I'm gonna leave
Else he'd wake up by the fireplace and he'd sit there and gowl and grieve
But my huntin' days are over ain't gonna hunt the coon no more
Gabriel done brought in my chariot when the wind blew down the door
I ain't a gonna need this house no longer...
**********
8.
BILLY CHRISTIAN
(Tom T. Hall) « © '65 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »If you're listening Billy Christian come on home
Are you listening Billy Christian if you are then go on home
Everything is like you left it she spends all the time alone
All that music never thrills her like it did when you were there
Go on home Billy Christian if you care
What a team they were together Billy Christian and his wife
People loved to hear them singing that was their success in life
But the eyes of Billy Christian were the wild and wandering kind
Now Billy's wife sings solo all the time
Are you listening Billy Christian...
All the fellows tried to date her but she never blinked an eye
Every night she sings her same sad song and cries
Now where is Billy Christian does he ever hear the song
Does Billy Christian know he's welcome home
Are you listening Billy Christian...
Go on home Billy Christian if you care
**********
9.
DOODLIN' SONG
(Don Reid) « © '66 House Of Cash, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »Doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee
Doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee do
I realize I'm home spun and maybe even simpleton
But a question is a question and I gotta ask someone
Can you freeze to death in a coal mine
Is an aging Greek the Nick of time
And can a sewing bee really sew
And if you plant bird seed will a bird grow
Doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee...
Does a chaise lounge ever run
And what's the middle name of Tommy Gun
And can a swatter really fly
And can a needle see with a metal eye
Doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee...
Do ya have to play ball to have atheletes feet
And what's so sweet about bitter sweet
And does a living room wear a suit
And just how loud does a parachute
Doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee...
How big a trunk in the community chest
And in a rest room do you really rest
And does a stink weed really stink
And how far down does the kitchen sink
Doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee doodlee
Let me see now if I bought a herd of Buffalo on credit
Would they send me a Buffalo Bill
Do Grizzlies wear shoes or no I guess they go barefooted
**********
10.
QUITE A LONG LONG TIME
(Lew DeWitt) « © '66 Unichappell Music, BMI / Wallflower Music, BMI »Perhaps the semi darkness of this room has me confused
You say that you're an old old friend of mine
And if I'm wrong about you then I beg to be excused
It's just that I have not seen you in quite a long long time
Or could it be the bottle that you're holding in your hand
The girl I knew could never be that kind
Please be patient with me I will place you if I can
It's just that I have not seen you in quite a long long time
The dimple in your cheek is familiar I'll admit
And the smile does resemble one I've known
And the color of your hair does remind me quite a bit
Of someone the shade of blonde is not just like her own
Now I must go it's getting late and I do wish you well
And please go kind of easy on the wine
It's possible I know you but it's really hard to tell
It's just that I have not seen you in quite a long long time
**********
11.
WHIFFENPOOF SONG
(Meade Minnigerode - George Pomeroy - Tod Galloway) « © '47 Miller Catalog, ASCAP »From the tables down at Mory's to the place where Louie dwells
And the dear old Temple Bar we love so well
Sing the Whiffenpoofs assembled with their glasses raised on high
And the magic of their singin' casts a spell
Yes the magic of their singing of the songs we love so well
Shall I Wasting and Mavourneen and the rest
We will serenade our Louie till health and voices fail
And we'll pass and be forgotten with the rest
We're poor little lambs who have lost our way baa-baa-baa
We're little black sheep who have gone astray baa-baa-baa
Gentlemen songsters off on a spree doomed from here to eternity
Oh Lord have mercy on such as we baa-baa-baa
Gentlemen songsters off on a spree...
**********
12.
I STILL MISS SOMEONE
(Johnny Cash - Ray Cash) « © '58 House Of Cash, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »I still miss someone
At my door the leaves are falling a cold wild wind will come
Sweethearts walk by together and I still miss someone
I go out on a party and look for a little fun
But I find a darkened corner for I still miss someone
Though I never got over those blue eyes I see them everywehere
I miss those arms that held me when all the love was there
And I wonder if she's sorry for leaving what we'd begun
But there's someone for me somewhere and I still miss someone
I still miss someone
**********
