‘Pretty Paper’ resonates as top country music holiday song

Christmas music authority Kelly O’Sullivan has selected “Pretty Paper” as one of her favorite country music genre holiday songs. Good choice. 

Written by Willie Nelson in 1963 and recorded by Roy Orbison, the song enjoys its 60-year anniversary in 2023.

 

While walking on his farm in Ridgetop, Tenn., one day during the fall of 1963, Nelson drew inspiration to write the song as a tribute to a disabled street vendor. Nelson often saw the man when he was working as a radio DJ in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, in the 1950s. 

The man peddled pretty paper, ribbons and other novelties on the sidewalk in front of the iconic Leonard Brothers’ Department Store.

 

Entertainment writer Casey Young·reported that Nelson said he has always “regretted never stopping to talk to the vendor. But the image of seeing the man on the sidewalk stuck with Willie long after he moved to Tennessee to pursue a career in country music.” 

“Willie specifically remembered the man announcing, “Pretty paper! Pretty paper!”…to get the attention of passersby. This is where the instantly recognizable title and lyrics came from,” Young wrote. 

It all came rushing back. Nelson composed the song and lyrics within 20 minutes. Here’s how the song goes:

 

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

Wrap your presents to your darling from you

Pretty pencils to write “I love you”

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

 

Crowded street, busy feet hustle by him

Downtown shoppers, Christmas is nigh

There he sits all alone on the sidewalk

Hoping that you won't pass him by

 

Should you stop, better not, much too busy

You’re in a hurry, my how time does fly

In the distance the ringing of laughter

And in the midst of the laughter he cries

 

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

Wrap your presents to your darling from you

Pretty pencils to write “I love you”

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

 

The Fort Worth street vendor’s identity, however, remained a mystery to the general public. In 2004, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was finally able to crack the case and identify the man who inspired such the iconic song…through an appeal to loyal readers. 

Bob Neely, a rancher from Santo, Texas, stepped up to share the name of the street vendor – his neighbor, Frankie Brierton.

 

“Frankie Brierton was crippled by spinal meningitis,” wrote Mike Nichols, a former columnist at the newspaper. Frankie could not stand; his legs would not support his frame. He commuted to Fort Worth (about 55 miles) daily, driving a car outfitted with hand controls. Bierton died in 1973 at age 74. 

There’s more to the story, Nichols said. The pencils in the lyrics were sold by another pair of street vendors who camped out with Bierton in front of Leonard’s. They were blind missionaries Herman and Sylvia Douglas. They sold pencils and matches as they sang hymns and played harmonica and guitar. 

“Sylvia lost her sight in one eye in an accident when she was 9. Surgery to save her other eye failed, leaving her blind. She attended Texas School for the Blind and learned to read Braille. She was working at Lighthouse for the Blind in the late 1950s when she met Herman Douglas, who had been blind since his 30s,” Nichols said. 

“We would go out at 8:30 in the morning and sit in folding chairs outside…Leonard’s and sing until 3 o’clock,” Sylvia said. “We never asked anyone for money, and I was never ashamed of what I was doing. You don’t get embarrassed about what the Lord asked you to do.” 

Amen and amen.