Tom T. Hall is not only a musician, he is also a true poet with his words when composing or writing songs. The songs he wrote were stories he known or heard about, and turning them into songs we love.
Tom T. Hall’s Success
The first song that gave Tom his break was “DJ For A Day.” Jimmy C. Newman recorded this song, and it gave Tom the chance to pursue his career in writing music. Furthermore, Tom’s biggest success came when he wrote the story of a woman fighting against the school’s PTA. The song “Harper Valley PTA” was recorded by Jeannie C. Riley in 1968. Jeannie made the song peak at No.1 on the Billboard Country chart. Other artists for whom Tom wrote songs were Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Waylon Jennings, and George Jones.
“Faster Horses (The Cowboy and the Poet)”
Aside from writing songs, Tom has a talent for singing. Together with his skills as a songwriter, Tom recorded songs which he wrote for himself. “Faster Horses (The Cowboy and the Poet)” is a country song written by Tom in 1975. His song was the first track on his 13th album Faster Horses. Released in 1976, Faster Horses climbed the Billboard chart to No. 3, making this Tom’s 7th album to enter the top 10 of the chart. The leading track “Faster Horses (The Cowboy and the Poet)” became Tom’s 7th No.1 song to enter the chart.
About the Song
“Faster Horses (The Cowboy and the Poet)” is a story of a man who is a poet, asking a cowboy about the mysteries of life. The Cowboy gave the poet an answer, however, it was not what the poet was expecting. The cowboy said that life is all about,
“It’s faster horses, younger women,
Older whiskey, and more money”
Moreover, the cowboy informed the man too that,
“It don’t do men no good to pray for peace and rain.
Peace and rain is just a way to say prosperity,
And buffalo chips is all it means to me.”
Disappointed with the cowboy’s advice, the poet tried to start a fight. However, since the poet cannot find the secret of life, he ended up believing the cowboy and stopped being a poet.
Read more at Country Thang Daily or like us on our Facebook page.
Tags
Faster Horses, tom t hall