A singer the caliber of Watson finding success with someone else’s lyrics is par for the course in country music. In fact, Watson built a legacy on adding new life to others’ compositions, including Lawton Williams’ “Farewell Party,” Jim Rushing’s “Nothing Sure Looked Good on You” Larry Gatlin‘s “Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall” and Dallas Frazier‘s “Fourteen Carat Mind”–not to mention “Don’t Look at Me (in That Tone of Voice)” by another songwriting great from Canada, Ray Griff.
“Paper Rosie” wasn’t just a chance for Gene Watson to cut a song suited to his vocal style and score another hit for Capitol Records. It represented a way to celebrate a great talent and devoted friend.
The day before his Feb. 7, 2020 induction into the Grand Ole Opry cast, Watson shared a touching memory of Harms.
“I’ve got the guitar he wrote ‘Paper Rosie’ on,” Watson says. “It’s a Del Veccio metal plate resonator guitar. He was going to give it to me, but I wouldn’t let him. Cool story: I wouldn’t let him give it to me, and he didn’t want me to pay him. I gave him an American half dollar that I had in my pocket, and he gave me back four Canadian dimes in change. He said, ‘Rosie sold her roses for a dime. I’m giving you this guitar for a dime.'”
READ MORE: The Story In “Paper Rosie” By Gene Watson