Jambalaya
Emmylou Harris 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 good fun on the bayou

Jambalaya, a-crawfish pie and a filé gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machez amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou

Thibideaux, Fountaineaux, the place is buzzin'
Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Dress in style, go hog wild, me oh my oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou

Jambalaya, a-crawfish pie and a filé gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machez amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou




Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou

Overall Meaning

In Emmylou Harris's "Jambalaya," the singer bids farewell to a man named Joe and heads out to the bayou with his sweetheart Yvonne. They plan to have a grand time by engaging in activities characterized by the lyrics "pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-oh." The song is also deeply rooted in Cajun culture as it references traditional Cajun dishes such as "crawfish pie" and "filé gumbo." The singer anticipates seeing his "machez amio," a term that roughly translates to "my friend" or "my darling" in Cajun French.


The lyrics of "Jambalaya" evoke feelings of joy, togetherness, and celebration. The song is an ode to the rich and diverse culture of Louisiana, particularly its Cajun and French heritage. The mention of Thibideaux and Fountaineaux, two places in Louisiana, adds to the song's cultural authenticity.


Line by Line Meaning

Goodbye Joe, me gotta go, me oh my oh
I must leave, Joe, it is time, oh my


Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou
I must paddle the boat down the bayou


My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh my oh
My love Yvonne, the sweetest, oh my


Son of a gun, we'll have good fun on the bayou
We'll have great enjoyment on the bayou


Jambalaya, a-crawfish pie and a filé gumbo
Jambalaya with crawfish pie and filé gumbo


'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machez amio
Because tonight I will see my love


Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-oh
Play guitar, fill up the jar and be merry


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


Thibideaux, Fountaineaux, the place is buzzin'
Thibideaux, Fountaineaux, the place is bustling


Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Relatives come to see Yvonne in large numbers


Dress in style, go hog wild, me oh my oh
Dress fashionably, go crazy, oh my


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


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


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




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@bobwarren3898

Emmylou, a hippie chick, and the Hot Band slid in under the radar and completely surprised the Nashville scene with her voice and the quality of her music. Her arrival could not be ignored then and look where she has come to now. Love that voice and her delivery.

@patricias5122

She was never a "hippie chick". a folk singer, yes, but not a chick. what a patronizing, uninformed comment.

@danielthomassladeslade7679

​@@patricias5122 a folk chick then.

@wrightchix

I dunno but Rodney Crowell, on the Telecaster, did pretty well, and I believe that is James Burton on the lead guitar.

@marinapaic7758

Bravo

@ulrichwill496

❤️❤️❤️🇨🇭

@dalepyle6754

Gods little angell

@ahromantic

I love older people coming on here and giving tidbits of things they remember!!

@bobbeck2743

Nearly 70 years since his death Hank still wears the crown. Who could not like this?

@nbenefiel

I’ve seen Emmy Lou any time she performs within 150 miles of me but the first time was in Dublin back in the 70’s. A friend gave me his ticket because he thought I was homesick. There was a mix up with the tickets and I wound u sitting by the guy mixing the sound. We g talking and it turned out he was from Detroit, as I was. He asked me back to the after concert party at the Shelbourne and I got to meet Emmy Lou.

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