Formed in 1984 by high-school friends Sammy Llanas and Kurt Neumann, the Bo… Read Full Bio ↴Formed in 1984 by high-school friends Sammy Llanas and Kurt Neumann, the BoDeans mixed Midwestern roots rock with elements of adult contemporary pop, fashioning a sound that earned critical acclaim during the '80s and commercial recognition during the following decade. Llanas and Neumann fronted the group by sharing vocal and guitar duties, while bassist Bob Griffin and drummer Guy Hoffman populated the rhythm section. Although based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the BoDeans began building an audience 20 miles east in Milwaukee, and their success in that town helped gain them a contract with Slash Records, with manufacturing and distribution handled by Warner Bros.

The BoDeans worked with T-Bone Burnett on their debut album, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, which appeared in 1986 to warm reviews. They recruited another big-name producer, Talking Head Jerry Harrison, to helm 1987's Outside Looking In, which found the band reduced to a trio after the departure of Hoffman. Outside Looking In broke into the Billboard Top 100, and the BoDeans grew their audience by touring alongside U2, appearing on Robbie Robertson's self-titled solo album, and receiving the honor of Best New Band by Rolling Stone magazine. By the time they released their third album, Home, in 1989, keyboardist Michael Ramos and drummer Danny Gayol had joined. This lineup stayed intact for the release of 1991's Black and White, but the BoDeans went without a drummer once again on their next recording, Go Slow Down.

Following the release of a double-disc live album, Joe Dirt Car, the band returned in 1996 with Blend. Around the time of Blend's release, "Closer to Free" -- a song that had originally appeared on 1993's Go Slow Down -- became a hit, due in large part to its exposure as the theme song for the TV show Party of Five. "Closer to Free" eventually cracked the Top 20, becoming the most successful single of the band's career. The BoDeans were arguably more popular than ever, but the band took a break during the late '90s, with both frontmen devoting time to their solo careers.

By 2004, the band had reconvened and signed with a new label, Zoe. Resolution was released that year, followed in 2005 by Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst. Griffin left the group in 2006 and was replaced by Eric Holden, who appeared on 2008's Still. By this point, the bandmates had found a new home on 429 Records, and they remained with that label for the release of Mr. Sad Clown in 2010 and Indigo Dreams in 2011. That same year saw the departure of Llanas, citing "differences of opinion." The band's 11th studio album, American Made, arrived the following year on the band's own Free & Alive label, and was the first with Neumann as sole leader. The BoDeans toured extensively in support of the release, and in 2014 began work on their next studio project. Released in 2015, I Cant Stop featured a new BoDeans lineup anchored by Neumann, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Sam Hawksley, bassist Eric Holden, and drummer Kenny Aronoff, the latter a well-respected journeyman musician who had played on several BoDeans recording sessions in the '90s. In June 2016, the BoDeans brought out a single, "My Hometown," with the release benefiting the Milwaukee County Historical Society. The single was a preview of the group's next album; titled Thirteen, the 11-song set was released in April 2017.

Ballad Of Jenny Rae
BoDeans Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hay!
Baby gotta love
Yes I gotta love
Take me to the river
Till the river runs dry
Baby gotta love
Yes I gotta love
Ooh, I'm gonna love her

Till the day that I die

Chorus:
Baby gotta love
Yes I gotta love
Take me to the river
Till the river runs dry
Baby gotta love
Yes I gotta love
Ooh, I'm gonna love her
Till the day that I die

Singin' baby
Singin' baby
Jenny Rae left me late last fall
Didn't say much she just left that's all
People tellin' me, she'll be back someday
Listen to the the people baby what they say

[Chorus]

Singin' baby
Singin' baby
Time's gettin tough
Baby, time's gettin' hard
Workin' everyday but I don't get far
Tell you one thing baby love that's true
Is right here honey
Just a waitin' on you

[Chorus]

Don't say much about Jenny Rae
Most memories just a fade away
People tellin' she'll be back someday
But, I never listen to what the people say!

[Chorus: x2]

Singin' baby
Singin' baby
Singin' baby
Singin' baby

[Chorus: x4]

Overall Meaning

The Ballad of Jenny Rae by BoDeans is a song about love and perseverance. The singer is in love with Jenny Rae and nothing can stop him from loving her till the end of his days. The song starts with the lines "Baby gotta love, yes I gotta love, take me to the river till the river runs dry" which means that the singer's love is so intense that it can only be quenched by being taken to the river till it dries up. It shows how committed he is to Jenny Rae and how his love will conquer all.

The chorus of the song is very catchy and powerful as it demonstrates the singer's determination to love Jenny Rae till his last breath. The people around him tell him that she will be back someday, but he doesn't care about what they say. He believes that love is the only thing that truly matters and he knows that it's right there waiting for her.

In summary, the song is all about the singer's unconditional and unwavering love for Jenny Rae. He is determined to love her till the end of his days, despite the obstacles that come his way. It's a touching song filled with honesty, love, and dedication.

Line by Line Meaning

Hay!
Starting with a call-out sound, expressing exclamation and eagerness.

Baby gotta love
I must love her, it's important to me.

Yes I gotta love
The love for her is compulsory, can't resist it.

Take me to the river
Let's go to the river.

Till the river runs dry
We need to stay there till it dries up.

Ooh, I'm gonna love her
Expressing the intensity of his love for her.

Till the day that I die
Will love her with this intensity until the end.

Singin' baby
Singing with affection.

Jenny Rae left me late last fall
She left me last autumn.

Didn't say much she just left that's all
She didn't say anything, just left.

People tellin' me, she'll be back someday
Some folks say she will return eventually.