Sappy Songs: Name the Character Online Quiz | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In this song, there is a barmaid working in a seaside port who, although she is admired by others, yearns only for her absent sailor lover who tells her in the song: "But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea." What is the name of the lovelorn barmaid?

Answer: Brandy

"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" was written by Elliot Lurie, recorded by his band 'Looking Glass' and was a hit in 1972. The name of the song was apparently inspired by a girl in Elliot's life who had a name similar to Brandy (perhaps Sandy, Candy or Mandy?).
In the song, Brandy walks around the town after the bar has closed and pines for her sailor; on the bright side she did get a chain and locket from him.

2. This song tells the story of a love struck man who wants to marry a girl who lives on a mountain with her cantankerous and homicidal father. The would-be lover complains in the song that: "It's just not right to hide his daughter, from the one who loves her so." What is the name of the cranky dad?

Answer: Clifton Clowers

The song "Wolverton Mountain" was written by Merle Kilgore and Claude King, recorded by Claude King, and was a hit in the USA in 1962. Wolverton mountain is actually located in Indiana and Clifton Clowers is named after Merle Kilgore's uncle.
The song tells of the man's intention to climb the mountain to claim the girl despite the danger from the girl's father, Clifton Clowers, and is apparently a little homily to keep trying in life ......... or perhaps to keep procrastinating.

3. The narrator in this song is dictating a letter, telling his wife he won't be coming home after discovering her infidelity. In the song he tells his secretary: " So take a letter (__________), address it to my wife, Send a copy to my lawyer, gotta start a new life." What is the name of the secretary?

Answer: Maria

"Take a Letter, Maria" was written and recorded by R.B. Greaves and was a hit in 1969. In the song, the narrator, after deciding he needs to get on with his life, notices that Maria has been a 'good secretary' and, not having anything to do that night, asks her out to dinner...(run a mile, Maria, run a mile...)

4. This well known song tells of a widow criticised for the way she is bringing up her daughter and the clothing she wears with the song advising: "... you're wearing your dresses way too high, It's reported you've been drinking and runnin' 'round with men and going wild". What is the name of the widow?

Answer: Mrs Johnson

"Harper Valley P.T.A." was written by Tom T. Hall and recorded by Jeannie C. Riley in 1968. The story is apparently based on real events in the songwriter's hometown where a woman, like Mrs Johnson in the song, was criticised for her lifestyle and then attended the P.T.A. to point out the failings of those criticising her.

5. This song tells the story of a man dreaming of returning to his home town when in fact he's in jail and about to be executed the next morning. In the song, he dreams of stepping from the train where: "Down the road I look and there runs (__________)". Who is running towards him in his dream?

Answer: Mary

The song "Green Green Grass of Home" was written by Nashville songwriter Curly Putnam in 1964 and recorded by many singers, the biggest hit being by Tom Jones in 1966. The singer dreams of his small town home with his mother, father and Mary greeting him as he arrives home. Unfortunately, he is to be executed in jail and the only way he is returning home is in a box.

6. The story of this song is very simple; it is of a man who was born, married and then died as the song advises: " ... in a village hidden deep in the valley among the pine trees half forlorn". What is the name of the man?

Answer: Jimmy

This song, "Little Jimmy Brown", was also known as "The Three Bells". It was based on a 1945 French song called "Les Trois Cloches", written by Jean Villard and Marc Herrand and recorded by many artists including Jim Reeves. The song promotes the simple life including being hatched, matched and dispatched all in the same little town.

7. In this song, a cowboy suffers unrequited love for a Mexican girl who dances at the cantina; he shoots another cowboy who is sharing a drink with her, runs away and then is driven to see her again, suffering the consequences with the song advising: "I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle, I feel the bullet go deep in my chest." What is the name of this Mexican girl?

Answer: Felina

"El Paso" was written and recorded by Marty Robbins in 1959 and was a number one hit in the USA. The storyline is of a man driven to do an evil deed by his love of wayward woman and paying for it with his life. Perhaps cowboys should stick to hard liquor and a good horse and stay away from women with cat names....

8. This song tells of a girl from the slums of Naples who now lives among the jet set; a friend from childhood wonders whether the jet set lifestyle has brought her contentment. The song asks: "Won't you tell me the thoughts that surround you, I want to look inside your head". What is the name of the girl?

Answer: Marie-Claire

"Where Do You Go To My Lovely" was written and recorded by Peter Sarstedt in 1969 and was a hit in the UK. It tells of Marie-Claire, her glamorous lifestyle far from the slums of Naples, and asks whether her lifestyle has brought her happiness........mmm, apartment in Paris?, hovel in Naples?, that's got to be an easy choice!

9. The Tallahatchie bridge features in this song with the narrator and Billie Joe being seen throwing a bundle off the bridge and Billie Joe then jumping off the same bridge. In the song the preacher tells her mother: "He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge...". What is the preacher called?

Answer: Brother Taylor

"Ode to Billie Joe" was written and recorded by Bobbie Gentry in 1967. The song tells of two incidents that may or may not be related, the bundle thrown from the bridge and Billie Joe jumping. Apparently the songwriter herself did not have an explanation for the suicide of Billie Joe or what the bundle may have been.
The song was the basis of the 1976 movie, "Ode to Billy Joe" which attempted to explain the reason behind the suicide.

10. This is a nice little homicidal song about a man who is in jail on death row because he took revenge for his wife's murder by shooting her killer. The song tells us that his reason is: "Take an eye for an eye and a life for a life, and somebody must die for the death of my wife." What is the name of his wife?

Answer: Maria

The song "I Did What I Did For Maria" was written by Peter Callander and was a hit song in 1971 for Tony Christie. The song recalls how the narrator avenged his murdered wife and advises that he did it for her ...
Peter Callandar wrote quite a few other sappy songs including "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast", recorded by Wayne Newton, and "Billy Don't Be A Hero", recorded by Paper Lace.

Source: Author cruskit50

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ertrum before going online.
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Sappy Songs: Name the Character Quiz

Name the characters from these songs based on the story synopsis and a line from the lyrics. These songs are from the 1950s up to the early 1970s, and all tell stories, mostly of heartache and tragedy, that classifies them as sappy songs.

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