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decided his tunes could be improved by archaic lyrics. For his next two songs, "Sparrow in the Tree Top" and "Let Me In," he wrote such lines as
I'll 'ring you a song on my banjo I'll tell you the 'tears' of my life
These are authentic folk usages, and hearing such lines Merrill's friends were awe-struck. "You've been down to Nashville," they said accusingly.
With "Sparrow" a success, he brought out "My Truly, Truly Fair." Today it is growing into a hit, not only in the pop field but in country as well. Indeed, it is actually cited by country disk jockeys as representing the best in country music.
Even Rosalie Allen was fooled by it. When told it was written by a Tin Pan Alley tunesmith, a look of incredulity passed over her face. Then she gulped, and smiled. "It just proves what I've always said," she explained. "Country music comes straight from the heart, and a fellow can be a hillbilly on Central Park West as well as in the mountains."
Tin Pan Alley, frantically searching its heart for simple melodies, hopes Rosalie is right. |
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Allen Churchill, a free lance, writes from a longtime interest in regional songs.
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