I have heard this called a psychedelic Country song… CMT named it one of the 100 greatest Country songs of all-time. You know when the Muppets cover you…you have a hit. I remember it early on as a kid and in more modern times when Bruce Willis was mouthing the words it in Pulp Fiction.
Lew DeWitt, the original tenor for The Statler Brothers, wrote “Flowers on the Wall. He described it: “We took gospel harmonies and put them over in country music.” However, it did crossover to the pop charts.
Buoyed by interest from the country fans, folk listeners began to demand that rock stations play Flowers On The Wall. In December, the song appeared on Billboard’s Hot 100. Nine weeks later, it had peaked at #4 in the Billboard 100 and #2 in the Billboard Country Charts in 1966.
All together the Statler Brothers had 66 songs in the top 100, 33 in the Top Ten and 4 number 1’s in the Billboard Country Charts. Flowers On The Wall was their only top 10 Billboard 100 hit.
In 1966 it won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Performance-Group (Vocal or Instrumental.)
From Songfacts
Written by Statler Brothers singer Lew DeWitt, this song is about a guy who has been left lonely and nearly catatonic by the one he loves. He’s in a pretty bad spot, counting flowers on the wall and playing solitaire with a deck that’s missing a card.
This appears on the soundtrack to the movie Pulp Fiction. Bruce Willis is singing along to the song, which is playing on his car radio, just before he runs over Marsellus Wallace at an intersection. There’s another Bruce Willis connection to the song as well: Willis mentions spending his suspension “Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo” in Die Hard With A Vengeance.
Flowers On The Wall
I keep hearin’ you’re concerned about my happiness
But all that thought you’re givin’ me is conscience I guess
If I was walkin’ in your shoes, I wouldn’t worry none
While you ‘n’ your friends are worried about me I’m havin’ lots of fun
Countin’ flowers on the wall
That don’t bother me at all
Playin’ solitaire till dawn with a deck of fifty-one
Smokin’ cigarettes and watchin’ Captain Kangaroo
Now don’t tell me I’ve nothin’ to do
Last night I dressed in tails, pretended I was on the town
As long as I can dream it’s hard to slow this swinger down
So please don’t give a thought to me, I’m really doin’ fine
You can always find me here, I’m havin’ quite a time
Countin’ flowers on the wall
That don’t bother me at all
Playin’ solitaire till dawn with a deck of fifty-one
Smokin’ cigarettes and watchin’ Captain Kangaroo
Now don’t tell me I’ve nothin’ to do
It’s good to see you, I must go, I know I look a fright
Anyway my eyes are not accustomed to this light
And my shoes are not accustomed to this hard concrete
So I must go back to my room and make my day complete
Countin’ flowers on the wall
That don’t bother me at all
Playin’ solitaire till dawn with a deck of fifty-one
Smokin’ cigarettes and watchin’ Captain Kangaroo
Now don’t tell me I’ve nothin’ to do
Don’t tell me I’ve nothin’ to do
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My dad loved this song, so of course I liked it and heard it a lot as a kid. I never thought of it as psychedelic. Interesting. The lyrics are great. They make you listen from the start and paint a scene anyone can readily visualize.
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The Captain Kangaroo mention got my attention as a kid…and kept it.
I think it was just so different than some of the other country songs at the time…I didn’t know it crossed over as well as it did to #4.
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Ya, the #4 spot surprised me too. The Captain Kangaroo line was a good one.
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I watched Captain Kangaroo all the time.
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I did also…I loved Mr. Moose and Mr Green Jeans.
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Cool song. Glad it did well on different charts… I can hear both a country and like you suggest, psychedelic pop sound to it.
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I’m really appreciating your posting of these old songs that I know well but have never seen a video of … I only ever “watched” the Statler Bros on the radiogram!
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Thank you and I haven’t see many of these either. My memory is Mom’s records and Dad’s 8 tracks.
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There was a really deep voice on that record. I heard it as a kid and had no idea what Captain Kangaroo was.
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The Captain was really big over here…they reminded me of a barbershop quartet…with music.
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I don’t think I ever saw a Captain Kangaroo as a kid, but he was on in Canada and I was aware of him. there was a Canadian equivalent too, Uncle Bobby. think I used to watch him when I was likely 2,3 years old but don’t really remember it
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The Captain would goof around and then introduce cartoons and skits. He retired in the mid 80s… I would imagine most countries would have their own version.
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The Statler Brothers are one group that could sing the phone book and it would sound good. I like the bits of trivia about Bruce Willis and had forgotten those parts in the movies. Interesting and cool about how well they did on different charts. Thanks for bringing this old gold — with video! — back today.
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I remember the 8 track and hearing these voices coming out…and hearing Captain Kangaroo…a win win situation.
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Love the Statlers! Eric Heatherly had a minor hit with it in the 90’s I believe, I liked his version, too.
I also loved “Do You Know You Are My Sunshine” from them!!
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Don’t they look sharp! Great track
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This song reminds me of my dad. I remember him singing along. I just love it. The Statlers & the Oak Ridge Boys. Good stuff.
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Same here with me also…wasn’t your run of the mill country song.
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I can’t help but think of that scene of Bruce with the samurai when I hear this.
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I know…many people think of that now since Pulp Fiction.
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