"Quarter to Three" by Gary U.S. Bonds
Quarter to Three by Gary U.S. Bonds
November 20, 2017
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November 25, 2017

Roy Orbison Pretty Paper

Roy Orbison Pretty Paper

Country Music for Christmas

The song “Pretty Paper” was written by the one and only Willie Nelson in 1963. Producer Fred Foster gave the song to Roy Orbison, as Nelson was known as a songwriter at the time but was not as well known as a singer. Roy Orbison had a hit with it in 1963. It went to #10 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, #15 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #27 on the Christmas Singles Chart. It is a golden oldie Christmas song that one doesn’t hear too much these days.

The song is a about a street vendor who sells pencils and paper to the holiday shoppers, but many do not notice him or his plight. Nelson was inspired by a man he had seen when he lived in Fort Worth, Texas. The man, whose legs had been amputated, was a street vendor who moved on rollers and sold paper and pencils in front of Leonard’s Department Store. The vendor, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram discovered, was named Frankie Brierton. He did indeed sell paper and pencils and had his own unique method of locomotion rather than use a wheelchair.

Nelson recorded his own version in 1964, which was produced by Chet Atkins. “Pretty Paper” is also a track on Nelson’s 1979 album titled Pretty Paper.

Roy Orbison was born Roy Kelton Orbison in Vernon, Texas, in 1936. The Big O was known for his emotional ballads and three- or four-octave range. He would perform standing fairly still on stage, wearing black clothes and dark sunglasses. He helped to popularize a blend of pop, country, and rock that was coming out of Nashville at the time. His recognition includes being part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also on the Rolling Stone’s Greatest Artists and 100 Greatest Singers lists. He died of a heart attack at the age of 52.

Roy Orbison (April 23, 1935-December 6, 1988).

Here are the lyrics to “Pretty Paper” by Roy Orbison:

“(The pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue)

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
Wrap your presents to your darling from you
Pretty pencils to write I love you
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

Crowded street, busy feet, hustle by him
Downtown shoppers, Christmas is nigh
There he sits all alone on the sidewalk
Hoping that you won’t pass him by

Should you stop? Better not, much too busy
You’re in a hurry, my how time does fly
In the distance the ringing of laughter
And in the midst of the laughter he cries

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
Wrap your presents to your darling from you
Pretty pencils to write I love you
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue”

For More Golden Oldies Music       

 

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “Pretty Paper” by Roy Orbison

Here are the lyrics to “Pretty Paper” by Roy Orbison:

“(The pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue)

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
Wrap your presents to your darling from you
Pretty pencils to write I love you
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

Crowded street, busy feet, hustle by him
Downtown shoppers, Christmas is nigh
There he sits all alone on the sidewalk
Hoping that you won’t pass him by

Should you stop? Better not, much too busy
You’re in a hurry, my how time does fly
In the distance the ringing of laughter
And in the midst of the laughter he cries

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
Wrap your presents to your darling from you
Pretty pencils to write I love you
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue”

For More Golden Oldies Music       

 

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “Pretty Paper” by Roy Orbison

2 Comments

  1. […] For other songs by Roy Orbison: “Crying” and “Pretty Paper.” […]

  2. […] For other songs by Roy Orbison: “Crying” and “Pretty Paper.” […]

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