Jambalaya
Domino Fats Lyrics


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Goodbye, Joe, me gotta go, me-oh, my-oh
Me gotta go, pole the pirogue down the bayou
My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me-oh, my-oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou

Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filé gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma chère amie-o
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
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
Dress in style, go hog wild and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou

Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filé gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma chère amie-o




Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Jambalaya" represent a celebration of Louisiana culture and its famous dishes, as well as the joy of meeting with loved ones. The song begins with the singer saying goodbye to Joe and setting out on a journey with his lover, Yvonne, down the bayou. They plan to have "big fun on the bayou" together, indicating that they are looking forward to a good time.


The chorus of the song features the singer expressing excitement about the food he expects to eat with Yvonne that evening, specifically jambalaya, crawfish pie, and filé gumbo. These dishes are staples of Louisiana cuisine that are often served in combination with one another. Additionally, the singer plans to play guitar and have a drink, further underscoring the laid-back atmosphere of the gathering.


In the final verse, the singer mentions Thibodaux and Fontaineaux, two locations associated with the Cajun culture of Louisiana. The place is "buzzin'" with kinfolk who have come to see Yvonne, and the singer encourages everyone to "go hog wild" and enjoy themselves. The theme of the song is one of unbridled celebration, featuring good food, good music, and good company.


Line by Line Meaning

Goodbye, Joe, me gotta go, me-oh, my-oh
Farewell, Joe, I have to leave now.


Me gotta go, pole the pirogue down the bayou
I have to depart in my small swamp-boat and move along the river.


My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me-oh, my-oh
The name of my sweetheart is Yvonne, and she is the loveliest person.


Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
We will have a great time on the swamp.


Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filé gumbo
I'll have some spicy Cajun dishes to eat.


'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma chère amie-o
Tonight I will get to see my dear lover.


Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
I'll play some uplifting music on my guitar and enjoy fine beverages.


Thibodaux, Fontaineaux, the place is buzzin'
The town of Thibodaux and Fontaineaux are lively and busy with activity.


Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Many family members have come to visit Yvonne.


Dress in style, go hog wild and be gay-o
We'll dress up in fashionable clothing and have a fantastic time.


Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
We will have a magnificent time on the swamp.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Beth Bartlett

Batty

My Irish-tush is wigglin' 🍀

IRISH AMERICAN !
County Kerry Lineage

But my Great Uncle was from Scotland, gorgeous man and he married a stunningly Beautiful Woman - My Aunt and she was of the "Lynch family" they been here since 1770 , i.e. Lynchburg, Virginia. They were from County Cork.

You guys have the best accent! Best!



All comments from YouTube:

cclmontoya

Lee Allen is a fantastic sax player as is Walter Kimble (dancer). They are both great sax tenors. Fats knew what talent was. RIP fats.

john smith

RIP . Fats in that big Blueberry Hill in the sky !

Philip Pankhurst

What a performer and what a fantastic band. My first musical love - drove my mother mad at first, but she loved Blueberry Hill ! Such a sad loss, but what a legacy he leaves.

mskaysera

Wow- this is the first time I've seen Lee Allen on video- and yes, his largely unsung work was absolute poetry! I'm only grateful that Herb Hardesty, who played the breaks on most of Fats' hits is still blowing, and plays in New Orleans every year at JazzFest.

Ana Isabel Vieira de Castro

Absolute poetry!!!!! Incredible.

barbara Carary

The daddy of rock, the daddy of soul, even the daddy of the shuffle.....I love you Fats and your friends .... every note is true...no licks, no tricks.....just your very BIG talent. Thank you from the rest of the world and especially from Australia. May you eat gumbo in good health and every day brings you delight.

naima KARA

Fabuleux, éternel, on ne l'oubliera jamais pour la joie magique qu'il nous a donné :)

Nelson Kerr

Gotta love Fats Domino, one the first artists I loved as a kid. Amazing band - diggin' the rhythm section.

spartacustracia

Legends in action! Thank you for all joy you brought to people all over the world for so many years!

Raúl René Sillas Meza

Wow..! que interpretación..! Todos geniales, pero ese Sr. del sax... fenomenal..! Me brincaron los pies para seguirles el ritmo..! Muy bien..!

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