As a teen, Hall put together a band called the Kentucky Travelers that performed before movies for a travelling theater. During a stint in the Army, Hall performed over the Armed Forces Radio Network and wrote comic songs about Army experiences. His early career included being a radio announcer at WRON, a local radio station in Ronceverte, West Virginia.
Hall's big break came in 1963 when singer Jimmy C. Newman recorded his song "DJ For a Day." In 1964 Hall moved to Nashville, TN, and within months had songs climbing the charts. Nicknamed "The Story Teller", he has written songs for dozens of country stars such as Johnny Cash, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings, and Alan Jackson.
One of the most popular songs, "Harper Valley PTA", was originally recorded in 1968 by Jeannie C. Riley, sold over six million copies, and won both a Grammy and CMA award. The song later would inspire the motion picture and television program of the same name.
Hall's own recording career took off after that and he had such hits as "A Week in the Country Jail," "Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine," "I Love," "Country Is", "The Year Clayton Delaney Died," "The Old Side of Town," and "I Like Beer." He was also noted for his children's songs, the most popular being "Sneaky Snake".
He also hosted the syndicated country music TV show Pop Goes the Country.
His son, Dean Hall, is also a singer and is member of the MuzikMafia.
A hard-rock adaptation of his song I love was featured in a series of successful television commercials for Coors beer.
Hall largely retired from writing new material in 1986 and from performing in 1994; his final public performance, which was also his first in several years, was in 2011.
Discography
Singles Written and Performed By Tom T. Hall
* "I Washed My Face in the Morning Dew" (#30, 1967)
* "Ain't Got The Time" (#68, 1968)
* "The World The Way I Want It" (#66, 1968)
* "Ballad of Forty Dollars" (#4, 1969)
* "Homecoming" (#5, 1969)
* "Strawberry Farms" (#40, 1969)
* "Day Drinkin'" (#23, 1970)
* "Salute to a Switchblade" (#8, 1970)
* "Shoeshine Man" (#8, 1970)
* "A Week in a Country Jail" (#1, 1970)
* "Ode to Half a Pound of Ground Round" (#21, 1971)
* "One Hundred Children" (#14, 1971)
* "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" (#1, 1971) (also reached #42 on the Pop Singles Chart)
* "Me and Jesus" (#8, 1972) (also reached #92 on the Pop Chart)
* "More About John Henry" (#26, 1972)
* "The Monkey That Became President" (#11, 1972)
* "Old Dogs, Children, And Watermelon Wine" (#1, 1973)
* "Ravishing Ruby" (#3, 1973)
* "Spokane Motel Blues" (#16, 1973)
* "Watergate Blues" (#16, 1973)
* "Country Is" (#1, 1974)
* "I Love" (#1, 1974) (also reached #2 on the Adult Contemporary Chart and #12 on the Pop Singles Chart)
* "Sneaky Snake" (#69, 1974) (reached #55 on the Pop Singles Chart the following year)
* "That Song Is Driving Me Crazy" (#2, 1974) (also reached #63 on the Pop Singles Chart)
* "Deal" (#8, 1975)
* "I Care" (#1, 1975)
* "I Like Beer" (#4, 1975)
* "Faster Horses (The Cowboy And The Poet)" (#1, 1976)
* "Fox On The Run" (#9, 1976)
* "Negatory Romance" (#24, 1976)
* "It's All in the Game" (#12, 1977)
* "Your Man Loves You, Honey" (#4, 1977)
* "What Have You Got to Lose" (#9, 1978)
* "Son of Clayton Delaney" (#14, 1979)
* "You Show Me Your Heart (And I'll Show You Mine)" (#11, 1979)
* "Back When Gas Was Thirty Cents a Gallon" (#36, 1980)
* "Jesus On the Radio (Daddy On the Phone)" (#9, 1980)
* "Solder Of Fortune" (#51, 1980)
* "The Old Side of Town" (#9, 1980)
* "Everything From Jesus To Jack Daniels (#42, 1983)
* "P.S. I Love You" (#8, 1984)
* "A Bar with No Beer" (#40, 1985)
* "Down At The Mall" (#65, 1986)
Singles Written By Tom T. Hall But Performed By Other Artists
* "Mad" performed by Dave Dudley (#6, 1964)
* "Artificial Rose" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#8, 1965)
* "Back In Circulation" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#13, 1965)
* "City of the Angels" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#37, 1965)
* "What We're Fighting For" performed by Dave Dudley (#4, 1966)
* "Back Pocket Money" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#10, 1966)
* "California Uptight Band" performed by Flatt & Scruggs (#20, 1967)
* "Dropping Out of Sight" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#32, 1967)
* "Louisiana Saturday Night" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#24, 1967)
* "Town That Broke My Heart" performed by Bobby Bare (#16, 1968)
* "Anything Leaving Town Today" performed by Dave Dudley (#12, 1968)
* "There Ain't No Easy Run" performed by Dave Dudley (#10, 1968)
* "Harper Valley PTA" performed by Jeannie C. Riley (#1, 1968) (also reached #1 on the Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the Adult Contemporary Chart)
* "Greenwich Village Folk Song Salesman" performed by Jim & Jesse (#49, 1968)
* "(Margie's At) The Lincoln Park Inn" performed by Bobby Bare (#4, 1969)
* "George (And the Northwoods)" performed by Dave Dudley (#10, 1969)
* "One More Mile" performed by Dave Dudley (#12, 1969)
* "Boo Dan" peroformed by Jimmy C. Newman (#31, 1969)
* "That's How I Got To Memphis" performed by Bobby Bare (#3, 1970)
* "Pool Shark" performed by Dave Dudley (#1, 1970)
* "If I Ever Fall in Love (With a Honky Tonk Girl)" performed by Faron Young (#4, 1970)
* "Second Handed Flowers" performed by George Jones (#5, 1972)
* "You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)" performed by Johnny Rodriguez (#1, 1973) (also #86 on the Pop Singles Chart)
* "I Can Still Hear the Music in the Restroom" performed by Jerry Lee Lewis (#13, 1975)
* "I'm Not Ready Yet" performed by George Jones (#2, 1980)
* "Dropping Out Of Sight" performed by Bobby Bare (#35, 1981)
* "Little Bitty" performed by Alan Jackson (#1, 1996)
* "That's How I Got To Memphis" performed by Deryl Dodd (#36, 1996)
Sneaky Snake
Tom T. Hall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you go near the lake
Keep your eyes wide open
And look for sneaky snake
Now, maybe you won't see him
And maybe you won't hear
But he'll sneak up behind you
And then sneak snake goes dancing
Wiggling and a-hissing
Sneaky snake goes dancing
A-giggling and a-kissing
I don't like old sneaky snake
He laughs too much you see
When he goes wiggling through the grass
It tickles his underneath
Well sneaky snake drinks root beer
And he just makes me sick
When he is not dancing
He looks just like stick
Now he doesn't have any arms or legs
You cannot see his ears
And while we are not looking
He's stealing all of our beer
And then sneak snake goes dancing
Wiggling and a-hissing
Sneaky snake goes dancing
A-giggling and a-kissing
I don't like old sneaky snake
He laughs too much you see
When he goes wiggling through the grass
It tickles his underneath
The song "Sneaky Snake" by Tom T. Hall is a cautionary tale about a sneaky snake that lives near a lake. The lyrics warn children to be careful when they go near the lake and to keep an eye out for the sneaky snake. Even if they don't see or hear him, he could sneak up on them and drink all their root beer. The song conveys a sense of playful danger as it describes the snake as he goes wiggling and hissing around the grass.
The chorus of the song describes how the sneaky snake goes dancing, giggling, and kissing. The lyrics suggest that sneaky snake is a mischievous trickster that likes to steal beer and root beer, making people sick with his taste. The song also describes how the sneaky snake looks like a stick when he's not dancing, and how he doesn't have arms or legs or visible ears. The lyrics are light-hearted and playful, but they also teach children to be careful and aware of their surroundings.
One possible interpretation of this song is that it's a metaphor for the dangers of temptation and indulgence. The sneaky snake can represent any kind of temptation that lures people in with promises of pleasure, but ultimately leaves them feeling worse. The warnings in the song to keep your eyes open and be careful can be seen as advice to resist temptation and not give in to the sneaky snake's charms.
Line by Line Meaning
Boys and girls take warning
Listen up kids, I've got some important advice for you
If you go near the lake
If you happen to be in the vicinity of the lake
Keep your eyes wide open
Be vigilant and alert at all times
And look for sneaky snake
Be on the lookout for a mischievous serpent
Now, maybe you won't see him
It's possible that you may not spot him
And maybe you won't hear
There's a chance you won't even hear him
But he'll sneak up behind you
Regardless, he will creep up on you from behind
And drink all your root beer
And then steal all of your root beer
And then sneak snake goes dancing
After getting some refreshments, the sneaky serpent proceeds to dance
Wiggling and a-hissing
He moves his serpentine body and hisses
Sneaky snake goes dancing
The sneaky snake really loves to dance
A-giggling and a-kissing
He's giggling and even giving some smooches
I don't like old sneaky snake
I'm not fond of this sly little serpent
He laughs too much you see
He seems to find everything amusing
When he goes wiggling through the grass
When he slithers through the grass
It tickles his underneath
It seems to be a ticklish experience for him
Well sneaky snake drinks root beer
This devious serpent enjoys a good root beer
And he just makes me sick
It's a nauseating thought
When he is not dancing
When he's not showing off his dancing moves
He looks just like stick
He's indistinguishable from a twig
Now he doesn't have any arms or legs
This snake is limbless
You cannot see his ears
He doesn't seem to have any visible ears either
And while we are not looking
When we're not paying attention
He's stealing all of our beer
He's busy pilfering our beer supply
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TOM HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kyleeritchie2436
My grandmother use to sing this to my siblings and I. Such a great memory
@tammymamone8439
My grandfather did the same with me. He died when I was 1. I remember him(had to actually prove it to my Granny) So glad someone besides me knows it. Lol
@amberwatson849
My grandparents sang this to me as well when I little
@zane2343
RIP Kenneth Brewer
1970-2015
May you find find
peace wherever you are, god
bless your soul.
@mackittymac7269
My grandma always used to play this for me. Brings backs so many memories. I love you Lolli and Pop Pop. Best grandparents ever.
@Gore6194ever
Rest in Peace KBdesign.
Up in heaven. You will always be our Sneaky Snake.
@rodrikofharlaw6848
I was curious and managed to find his obituary
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/spokesman/obituary.aspx?n=kenneth-william-joseph-brewer&pid=175062923
@cjean49
😔
@cecilanderson6454
I didn't realize he had passed away. Thoughts and prayers.
@mysteriousgamingful
playing this at my funeral everyone is invited