Today’s song of the day is an American Country and Western song, “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” by Hank Williams.

Fun Facts

• “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” is a song about parties and typical Cajun food. The song was written, recorded and first released by Hank Williams in 1952.
• The dish, Jambalaya, after which the song is named, is a one-pot meal that contains smoked sausage together with a variety of meats such as chicken, pork and shrimp, as well as onion, celery, garlic, green peppers, rice and a selection of herbs.
• Speculation exists about who actually wrote the song. It is officially credited to Hank Williams, but some reports say that Moon Mullican was the co-writer.
• “Jambalaya” reached no.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart in 1952 and is one of Hank Williams’s most popular songs to this day. It is also his most covered song, with the likes of Jo Stafford, Fats Domino and The Carpenters, among others, producing hit versions.
• The song can be heard in the 1989 movie Steel Magnolias, and the tune was used in the documentary film, Born to be Wild.
• Hank Williams has been called “The King of Country Music” and is considered to be one of the most important singers and songwriters in American history. Before he died at the age of 29, he managed to record 35 singles that made it to the top 10 of the Billboard charts, 11 of which reached the number one position.

Lyrics:

(Musixmatch)

Goodbye, Joe, he gotta go, me oh my oh

He gotta go, pole the pirogue down the Bayou

His Yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh my oh

Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the Bayou

Thibodaux, Fontaineaux, the place is buzzin’

Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen

Dressed in style they go hog wild, me oh my oh

Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the Bayou

Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filé gumbo

For tonight I’m a gonna see my ma cher ami-o

Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o

Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the Bayou

Settle down far from town, get him a pirogue

And he’ll catch all the fish in the Bayou

Swap his mon to buy Yvonne what she need-o

Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the Bayou

Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filé gumbo

For tonight I’m a gonna see my ma cher ami-o

Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o

Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the Bayou

Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filé gumbo

For tonight I’m a gonna see my ma cher ami-o

Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o

Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the Bayou

Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filé gumbo

For tonight I’m a gonna see my ma cher ami-o

Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o

Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the Bayou

Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filé gumbo

For tonight I’m a gonna see my ma cher ami-o

Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o

Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the Bayou