Delta Dawn - wikipedia Delta Dawn For the unidentified murder victim, see Delta Dawn ( murder victim ). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2009 ) `` Delta Dawn '' Single by Tanya Tucker from the album Delta Dawn B - side `` I Love the Way He Loves Me '' Released May 13, 1972 Recorded 1972 Genre Country Length 3 : 09 Label Columbia Songwriter ( s ) Larry Collins, Alex Harvey Producer ( s ) Billy Sherrill Tanya Tucker singles chronology `` Delta Dawn '' ( 1972 ) `` Love 's the Answer '' / `` The Jamestown Ferry '' ( 1972 ) `` Delta Dawn '' ( 1972 ) `` Love 's the Answer '' / `` The Jamestown Ferry '' ( 1972 ) `` Delta Dawn '' Single by Helen Reddy from the album Long Hard Climb B - side `` If We Could Still be Friends '' Released June 1973 Format 7 '' Recorded 1972 Genre Adult contemporary Length 3 : 11 Label Capitol Songwriter ( s ) Larry Collins, Alex Harvey Producer ( s ) Tom Catalano Helen Reddy singles chronology `` Peaceful '' ( 1973 ) `` Delta Dawn '' ( 1973 ) `` Leave Me Alone ( Ruby Red Dress ) '' ( 1973 ) `` Peaceful '' ( 1973 ) `` Delta Dawn '' ( 1973 ) `` Leave Me Alone ( Ruby Red Dress ) '' ( 1973 ) `` Delta Dawn '' is a song written by former child rockabilly star Larry Collins and songwriter Alex Harvey, best known as a 1972 top ten country hit for Tanya Tucker and a number one hit for Helen Reddy in 1973. The co-writer more often goes by the name Alexander Harvey today, not to be confused with Glaswegian rocker Alex Harvey. Contents 1 Lyrical story 2 Background and recording history 3 Chart performance ( Tanya Tucker ) 4 Other versions 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Lyrical story The title character is a faded former Southern belle from Brownsville, Tennessee who, at forty - one, is obsessed to unreason with the long - ago memory of a jilting suitor. The song 's lyrics describe how the woman regularly `` walks down town with a suitcase in her hand / looking for a mysterious dark haired man '' who she says will be taking her `` to his mansion in the sky ''. Reddy 's recording in particular has choir - like inspirational overtones as well. Background and recording history The first recording of `` Delta Dawn '' was made by Harvey for his eponymous album released in November 1971. Although Harvey opened for Helen Reddy -- his Capitol labelmate -- at the Troubadour in January 1972, Reddy made no apparent connection with any of Harvey 's compositions at that time. Dianne Davidson, who sang backup on Harvey 's recording, was the first artist to record the song and chart in 1971 -- 72. Tracy Nelson, who also sang backup on Harvey 's recording, performed `` Delta Dawn '' in her live act. After hearing her sing the song at the Bottom Line in New York City, Bette Midler added the song to her repertoire. Nashville - based producer Billy Sherrill heard Midler sing `` Delta Dawn '' on The Tonight Show and wanted to sign her to Epic Records and have her record the song. Finding out that Midler was already signed to Atlantic Records, Sherrill cut the song with Tanya Tucker who was newly signed to Epic, and Tucker 's version was released in April 1972 to reach number 6 C&W that spring. Record producer Tom Catalano prepped an instrumental track of `` Delta Dawn '', virtually replicating that of Tucker 's single, and -- despite Catalano having worked with Helen Reddy -- the track was first offered to Barbra Streisand, upon whose refusal Catalano had Reddy add her vocals to the track. In the meantime Bette Midler had recorded `` Delta Dawn '' for her The Divine Miss M debut album from which her bluesy version was planned as the lead single. The June 1973 single release of Reddy 's version was two days before Midler 's, necessitating the amendment of the latter 's single so that the original B - side `` Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy '' was shopped to radio, becoming a Top Ten hit. Reddy 's version, with upward modulation added to the mimicking of Tucker 's cold intro and nonstop vocals throughout, entered the Top Ten on 18 August 1973 on its way to its lone frame at number 1, on 15 September 1973. Reddy 's Hot 100 # 1 hits, in order, were 1972 's `` I Am Woman '', then `` Delta Dawn '', then 1974 's `` Angie Baby ''. `` Delta Dawn '' also became the first of Reddy 's six consecutive -- and eight overall -- number 1 hits on the Easy Listening chart in Billboard. In Reddy 's native Australia, where she had reached number 2 with both `` I Do n't Know How to Love Him '' and `` I Am Woman '', `` Delta Dawn '' became Reddy 's first number 1 hit, spending five weeks atop the chart in August and September 1973. The follow - up single `` Leave Me Alone ( Ruby Red Dress ) '' gave Reddy a second consecutive -- and final -- Australian number 1. `` Delta Dawn '' also marked Reddy 's only chart appearance in South Africa, reaching number 13 in the autumn of 1973. The Statler Brothers released their version of the song on their 1973 Mercury album The Statler Brothers Sing Country Symphonies in E Major. Chart performance ( Tanya Tucker ) Chart ( 1972 ) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100 72 US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) 6 Canadian RPM Country Tracks Other versions This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2016 ) Waylon Jennings sang the song on his 1972 album Ladies Love Outlaws. Scott Walker released his version in 1974. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes included it on their album Ruin Jonny 's Bar Mitzvah. On Friends, Monica Geller sang the song at a piano bar where Mike Hannigan worked. Stone Cold Steve Austin sang the first verse on an episode of WWE Raw, notable for his failure to hit the high notes. See also List of number - one adult contemporary singles of 1973 ( U.S. ) List of Hot 100 number - one singles of 1973 ( U.S. ) References Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits : 1944 - 2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 357. Jump up ^ Billboard vol # 84 # 2 ( 8 January 1972 ) p. 12 Jump up ^ Tucker, Tanya ( 1997 ). Nickel Dreams : my life ( Large print ed. ). Waterville ME : Thorndike Press. p. 132. ISBN 0 - 7862 - 1182 - 2. Jump up ^ Tucker, Tanya ( 1997 ). Nickel Dreams : my life ( Large print ed. ). Waterville ME : Thorndike Press. p. 178. ISBN 0 - 7862 - 1182 - 2. Jump up ^ Hyatt, Wesley ( 1999 ). The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits. New York City : Watson - Guptill Publications. p. 126. ISBN 0 - 8230 - 7693 - 8. Jump up ^ `` Tanya Tucker -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for Tanya Tucker. Jump up ^ `` Tanya Tucker -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot Country Songs for Tanya Tucker. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Preceded by `` Let 's Get It On '' by Marvin Gaye US Billboard Hot 100 number - one single September 15, 1973 ( one week ) Succeeded by `` Let 's Get It On '' by Marvin Gaye Tanya Tucker Studio albums Delta Dawn What 's Your Mama 's Name Would You Lay with Me ( In a Field of Stone ) Tanya Tucker Lovin ' and Learnin ' Here 's Some Love Ridin ' Rainbows You Are So Beautiful TNT Tear Me Apart Dreamlovers Should I Do It Changes Girls Like Me Love Me Like You Used To Strong Enough to Bend Tennessee Woman What Do I Do with Me Ca n't Run from Yourself Soon Fire to Fire Complicated Tanya My Turn Compilation and live albums Live Greatest Hits Greatest Hits Encore Greatest Hits 1990 -- 1992 Live at Billy Bob 's Texas Notable singles `` Delta Dawn '' `` Love 's the Answer '' `` What 's Your Mama 's Name '' `` Blood Red and Goin ' Down '' `` Would You Lay with Me ( In a Field of Stone ) '' `` The Man That Turned My Mama On '' `` Lizzie and the Rainman '' `` San Antonio Stroll '' `` Do n't Believe My Heart Can Stand Another You '' `` You 've Got Me to Hold On To '' `` Here 's Some Love '' `` It 's a Cowboy Lovin ' Night '' `` You Are So Beautiful '' `` Texas ( When I Die ) '' `` Pecos Promenade '' `` Dream Lover '' `` Can I See You Tonight '' `` Feel Right '' `` Baby I 'm Yours '' `` One Love at a Time '' `` Just Another Love '' `` I 'll Come Back as Another Woman '' `` It 's Only Over for You '' `` Love Me Like You Used To '' `` I Wo n't Take Less Than Your Love '' ( with Paul Davis and Paul Overstreet ) `` If It Do n't Come Easy '' `` Strong Enough to Bend '' `` Highway Robbery '' `` Call on Me '' `` My Arms Stay Open All Night '' `` Walking Shoes '' `` Do n't Go Out '' ( with T. Graham Brown ) `` It Wo n't Be Me '' `` Oh What It Did to Me '' `` Down to My Last Teardrop '' `` ( Without You ) What Do I Do with Me '' `` Some Kind of Trouble '' `` If Your Heart Ai n't Busy Tonight '' `` Two Sparrows in a Hurricane '' `` It 's a Little Too Late '' `` Tell Me About It '' `` Soon '' `` We Do n't Have to Do This '' `` Hangin ' In '' `` You Just Watch Me '' `` Between the Two of Them '' `` Find Out What 's Happenin ' '' `` Little Things '' `` A Memory Like I 'm Gonna Be '' Related articles Albums discography Singles discography LaCosta `` Leave Them Boys Alone '' Helen Reddy Albums I Do n't Know How to Love Him Helen Reddy I Am Woman Long Hard Climb Love Song for Jeffrey Free and Easy No Way to Treat a Lady Music, Music Ear Candy We 'll Sing in the Sunshine Live in London Reddy Take What You Find Play Me Out Imagination Feel So Young Center Stage The Best Christmas Ever Compilations Helen Reddy 's Greatest Hits All - Time Greatest Hits The Best of Helen Reddy I Am Woman : The Essential Helen Reddy Collection Absolutely the Best of Helen Reddy The Woman I Am : The Definitive Collection Rarities from the Capitol Vaults Singles `` One Way Ticket '' `` I Do n't Know How to Love Him '' `` Crazy Love '' `` I Am Woman '' `` Peaceful '' `` Delta Dawn '' `` Leave Me Alone ( Ruby Red Dress ) '' `` Keep On Singing '' `` You and Me Against the World '' `` Angie Baby '' `` Emotion '' `` Ai n't No Way to Treat a Lady '' `` Somewhere in the Night '' `` I Ca n't Hear You No More '' `` You 're My World '' `` Candle on the Water '' `` We 'll Sing in the Sunshine '' Related articles Discography Toni Lamond Tony Sheldon `` Voices That Care '' Book : Helen Reddy Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Delta_Dawn&oldid=801975675 '' Categories : 1972 songs 1972 singles 1973 singles Waylon Jennings songs Tanya Tucker songs Helen Reddy songs Scott Walker ( singer ) songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one singles Debut singles Columbia Records singles Capitol Records singles Song recordings produced by Billy Sherrill Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from January 2009 All articles needing additional references Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Articles needing additional references from December 2016 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Norsk nynorsk Edit links This page was last edited on 23 September 2017, at 04 : 39. 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Question: what do the lyrics to delta dawn mean
Answer: a faded former Southern belle from Brownsville, Tennessee who, at forty-one, is obsessed to unreason with the long-ago memory of a jilting suitor