Wednesday, May 4, 2005
"Please Don't Go Topless, Mother" songwriter tells all
The songwriter behind cult anthem "Please Don't Go Topless, Mother" (MP3 Link) stumbled on a pair (1, 2) of 2004 Boing Boing entries praising this fine song. Today, more than three decades after those
Boing Boing readers who would like to express their thoughts to Ron may do so via nipitnipitnipit [at] aol.com. Thanks, Ron!My name is Ron Hellard. I am a writer in Nashville for the last 35 years. One day a secretary at the publishing company I was signed to, asked me to write a song for her son, Troy. I did, as a favor to her, knowing that nothing would come of it. it was just a custom deal.
I sat down and wrote this extremely tongue in cheek crap in about five minutes. I slapped it on a cassette and gave it to her.
The best thing you can say about the record was that it was round.
Showland Records (owned by troy's dad) probably pressed a thousand copies at most. I thought that would be the last I heard of this joke. But thirty years later it shows up on web sites and play lists here and across the great pond. I am amazed. I've read that the writer of this "song" must be a hick, and a lousy writer. That bothers me. as I said, it took ten minutes out of my life and it was a JOKE.
I am a pro writer with cuts by dozens of legit artists and have enjoyed success as a viable composer, but this thing sticks to me like glue. The original publisher was Acoustic Music, the catalog has been sold several times since.
I should clarify. One reviewer assumed that "Topless" was an attempt to write a serious country song, and slammed the writer for it. That's what got to me, it was meant to be, and most certainly is, a parody of country music.
regards
Ron Hellard
Previously: Anti-Porn hillbilly propaganda song -- "Please Don't Go Topless, Mother" and "Please Don't Go Topless, Mother" singer Troy Hess found!
posted by Xeni Jardin at 08:02:24 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments




My name is Ron Hellard. I am a writer in Nashville for the last 35 years. One day a secretary at the publishing company I was signed to, asked me to write a song for her son, Troy. I did, as a favor to her, knowing that nothing would come of it. it was just a custom deal.








