The Elderly American Songbook: From Curly Putman & Billy Sherrill

Claude “Curly” Putman, Jr.

By Jim Miller

Curly Putman, Jr. grew up on Putman Mountain in Alabama, did a stint in the Navy aboard the Valley Forge and moved from job to job until he sat down one day and wrote “Green, Green Grass of Home.” Some years later he would meet Paul and Linda, a young couple from Liverpool, who would write and record “Junior’s Farm” with their rock group Wings.

Billy Sherrill

Billy Sherrill started life in Alabama as Phil Campbell, a jazz wannabe with a saxophone. Knowing next to nothing about country music, he landed at Epic Records in Nashville where his pop music production values would transform the Nashville Sound. One day a pretty, blonde hopeful named Wynette Byrd walked into his life. Billy signed her to a contract, tacked “Tammy” onto her name, and it was off to the Country Music Hall of Fame for both the producer and his artist.

October, 1967, David Houston and Tammy Wynette teamed up to take My Elusive Dreams to #1 on the country charts and #89 on the Billboard Hot 100. With a well-deserved nod to Billy and Curly, here is….

My Elusive Choppers

You followed me to Wal*Mart.
You followed me to K-Mart.
We didn’t find ’em there so we moved on.

We moved on to Home Depot.
Things looked good,  but, alas, no.
We didn’t find ’em there so we moved on.

I know you’re tired of lookin’ for,
Traipsin’ ’round from store to store;
Dinner time won’t be that great
Without my dental plate.

We shared a Coke at Arby’s.
Stopped in at that book store.
We didn’t find ’em there so we moved on.

Down the street to Walgreen’s.
Lingered at the magazines.
We didn’t find ’em there so we moved on.

Now we’re parked at Starbuck’s,
Thinkin’ I’m flat out of luck.
Guess I’ll learn to gum it from now on.

[spoken]
Now, all we’ve got is me and you,
Rememberin’ how I used to chew.

And still, you won’t let me go on alone.

I know you’re tired of lookin’ for
Traipsin’ ’round from store to store
Dinner time won’t hold much adventure
Without my dentures!

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