Fairy Tale Land

Album: Not Released on an Album (1992)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The first song that Kentucky-born coal miner's daughter Angaleena Presley learned to play on the guitar was "Mama Tried" by Merle Haggard. It was her father who taught the song at the age of 15 and within a year or so Presley was penning her own material.
  • This was the first ever song Presley wrote. She recalled to American Songwriter magazine: "It was so awful. I was a senior in high school and I wrote a song called 'Fairy Tale Land.' It was about me venturing off into the world and leaving my fairy tale life behind. My mom liked it and encouraged me to write more. About 20 songs later I wrote something that made me think, "hmmm … this one might be kinda good."
  • Presley told CMT News she wrote this when she was 16-years-old. "It was about me moving away and going to college and leaving your parents," she explained. "It was awful. I would die if anyone heard it."

    "It was no 'Honky Tonk Girl,' that's for sure," she added.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.