Skip A Rope

Album: Skip A Rope (1967)
Charted: 25
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In the mid-'60s, Henson Cargill left his job as deputy sheriff in Oklahoma City to pursue a career in country music. Shortly after arriving in Nashville, he connected with Don Law, a legendary producer who served as the head of Columbia Records' country music division and had just formed an independent production company. He helped Cargill get signed to Monument Records and agreed to produce his debut single, "Skip A Rope." The socially conscious tune held parents accountable for teaching their children immoral behavior, from verbal abuse to tax evasion.

    The title comes from the game skipping rope (or jumping rope). The singer explains you can learn a lot about a child's home life if you listen to them talk while they play.
  • Written by Jack Moran and Glenn Douglas Tubbs (nephew to country music pioneer Ernest Tubbs), it was one of the first country songs to broach the subject of racism during the tumultuous Civil Rights era, with Cargill singing, "Never mind the rules, just play to win, and hate your neighbor for the shade of his skin."
  • The country chart-topper was also a crossover hit, peaking at #25 on the pop chart. Cargill is regarded as a one-hit-wonder in the pop realm, but he went on to notch several more Top 20 hits on the County chart, including "Row Row Row," "None Of My Business," and "The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I Ever Heard."
  • This earned Cargill a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, but the trophy went to Johnny Cash for his live version of "Folsom Prison Blues."
  • Several artists covered this, including Jimmy Dean, Conway Twitty, Patti Page, Bobby Bare, B.J. Thomas, The Jordanaires, and George Jones. The country rock group The Kentucky Headhunters also included in on their debut album, Pickin' On Nashville, in 1989.

Comments: 8

  • Harry Lime Is A Whiny from ButtWahhh Harry Lime is mad because racism is spoken about. Call the waaahbulance.
  • Harry Lime from UsaThat human beings have been so thoroughly brainwashed is evidence by the singular thoughts about this song being mainly being about "discrimination". Its hardly just that, which isn't even in a chorus, alone first verse. It is so much more. As an aside, Song Genius lists lyrics and only one verse is highlighted - guess which?
  • Matt Routhier from West Hartford, CtBeautiful song. Charley Crockett did a nice version on his newest album “Music City USA” that I encourage you to check out.
  • Mary from Pelham,ga,I couldn’t remember the name so I search google. Henson Cargill was the first time I heard this song in 1967.
    I was 19 at the time. It is so full of meaning it really should be played for the public!
  • Dave from Susanville, CaLogan Ledger is the newest artist to cover it...
  • AnonymousDuring college I was a jock at a top-40 AM station in Kansas. We started playing this great song as a crossover in 1973 and I remember every word and Henson's remarkable singing to this day almost 50 years after.
  • Cecilia Lynch from Philadelphia Pa.True today as it was then. We have a president that said only fools pay taxes
  • Christy Cargill Best from Santa Cruz CaHenson was my brother and I am happy that his song “Skip A Rope” is still a classic.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.