I'll be the first to admit I'm a bit of a shut-in. Others try to tell me it's a flaw, but I see nothing wrong with enjoying a little time to myself. Or a lot of time, as the case may be. Sure, it stems from being super-shy as a kid and throughout high school, but even as I've grown more outgoing over the years, I'd still rather spend my time at home rather than out in all the hustle and bustle.
At least I know the Statler Brothers understand where I'm coming from. The classic country quartet got their start singing backup for Johnny Cash in 1964, but found fame on their own with this hit the following year. "Flowers on the Wall" celebrates the humble solitary lifestyle with plenty of charm.
The tongue-and-cheek lyrics highlight one of my favorite things about growing up in the South: the sense of humor. Similar to giving someone the slightly backhanded compliment “Bless your heart,” the ironic lyrics like "playing solitaire til dawn with a deck of 51" add a dash of comedy on top of the catchy melody.
When Cash was given his own weekly television show in 1969, he made sure to bring the boys right along with him to continue filling out his sound with their incredible harmonies. For this moment in 1970, however, he put the spotlight on the Statlers for a performance of the Grammy-winning song.
With wife June Carter Cash standing behind him, Cash showers the band with praise like a proud father as he introduces their tune.
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