Today’s Throwback Weekend song comes from the week of September 15, 1973, when Helen Reddy’s ‘Delta Dawn’ topped the Hot 100 for a single week as part of its eight-week run in the top ten.
The song had previously been recorded by Bette Midler and Tanya Tucker, with the latter scoring a top ten hit on the Country chart. But Reddy, adding choir-like background vocals, was the first to score a major crossover hit with the track.
‘Delta Dawn’ was written by Larry Collins and Alex Harvey, though the melody of the chorus was clearly written by whoever penned ‘Amazing Grace’ back in the 1700s.
This tale of a woman led astray by a nefarious gentlemen replaced Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get it On’ at #1. Tony Orlando, Paul Simon, and Grand Funk rounded out the top five. The 70s were a fascinating decade.
Could it be a faded rose from days gone by
And did I hear you say
He was a-meeting you here today
To take you to his mansion in the sky
She’s forty-one and her daddy still calls ‘er “baby”
All the folks ’round Brownsville say she’s crazy
‘Cause she walks downtown with her suitcase in her hand
Lookin’ for a mysterious dark-haired man
In her younger days they called her Delta Dawn
Prettiest woman you ever laid eyes on
Then a man of low degree stood by her side
Promised her he’d take her for his bride
Delta Dawn, what’s that flower you have on
Could it be a faded rose from days gone by
And did I hear you say
He was a-meeting you here today
To take you to his mansion in the sky
Delta Dawn, what’s that flower you have on
Could it be a faded rose from days gone by
And did I hear you say
He was a-meeting you here today
To take you to his mansion in the sky
Delta Dawn, what’s that flower you have on
Could it be a faded rose from days gone by
And did I hear you say
He was a-meeting you here today
To take you to his mansion in the sky
Delta Dawn, what’s that flower you have on
Could it be a faded rose from days gone by
And did I hear you say
He was a-meeting you here today
To take you to his mansion in the sky
Meet Me In Montauk 
Good catch on the Amazing Grace comparison. I had never thought about that, but you’re right!
That definitely sounds like Amazing Grace!
I only knew the Tanya Tucker version… Thanks for sharing this one.