Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 – December 31, 1997) was an American Hall of… Read Full Bio ↴Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 – December 31, 1997) was an American Hall of Fame pianist who was one of the architects of the "Nashville Sound."

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Cramer grew up in the small town of Huttig, Arkansas, teaching himself to play the piano. After finishing high school, he returned to Shreveport, where he worked as a pianist for the Louisiana Hayride radio show.

In 1952, he made his way to Nashville at a time when the use of piano accompanists in country music was growing in popularity. Before long, Cramer would become one of the busiest studio musicians in the industry, playing piano for stars such as Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, The Browns, Jim Reeves, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson and the Everly Brothers, and many others. It is Cramer's piano that is heard, for example, on Presley's first national hit, "Heartbreak Hotel."

However, Cramer remained a virtual unknown to anyone but music industry insiders until he recorded a 45 rpm single in 1960 called "Last Date." An instrumental, the music exhibited a relatively new concept for piano playing known as the "slip note" style. The record went to Number two on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart. By the mid-1960s, Cramer had become a respected performer, making numerous record albums and touring with guitar maestro Chet Atkins and saxophonist Boots Randolph.

Floyd Cramer died of lung cancer in 1997 at the age of 64 and was interred in the Spring Hill Cemetery in the Nashville suburb of Madison, Tennessee.

In 2003, he was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee offers the "Floyd Cramer Competitive Scholarship."

Jambalaya
Floyd Cramer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Good-bye 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 gonna have big fun on the bayou.
Jambalaya, crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
Cause tonight I'm gonna see ma ch egravere amie-o
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o,
Son of a gun gonna have big fun on the bayou.

Brother Larry!

Fontainaux, Thibodaux, the place is buzzin',
People come to see Yvonne by the dozen.
Dress in style, go hog wild and be gay-o,

Son of a gun gonna have big fun on the bayou.

Jambalaya, crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
Cause tonight I'm gonna see ma ch egravere amie-o
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o,
Son of a gun gonna have big fun on the bayou.
Sister Mary!

Jambalaya, crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
Cause tonight I'm gonna see ma ch egravere amie-o
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o,

Son of a gun gonna have big fun on the bayou.
Son of a gun gonna have big fun on the bayou!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Floyd Cramer's song "Jambalaya" is a joyful celebration of Cajun culture and lifestyle. The song's protagonist is bidding farewell to his friend Joe, declaring that he has to go and pole the pirogue down the bayou. The singer is accompanied by Yvonne, the sweetest one, as they embark on their journey. The song highlights the significant role of Cajun cuisine in the community, mentioning jambalaya, crawfish pie, fillet gumbo, and fruit jars that are to be filled. The singer is looking forward to tonight's festivities with his "cher ami-o" and is planning to pick a guitar and be "gay-o" while having big fun on the bayou. The place is described as buzzing, and people are coming in droves to see Yvonne and to dress in style and go hog wild.

The lyrics of "Jambalaya" are rich with themes of community, culture, and joy. The song evokes an image of Southern hospitality, where people gather to enjoy good food, music, and company. The song's protagonist is carefree, and he is looking forward to an exciting night filled with dancing, laughter, and fun. The lyrics highlight the pleasures of life and the importance of enjoying the present moment with loved ones. The song's melody is upbeat and lively, adding to the joyful atmosphere.

Line by Line Meaning

Good-bye Joe, me gotta go, me oh my oh,
Farewell Joe, I must depart, oh my!

Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou.
I need to push the flat-bottomed boat down the river.

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

Son of a gun gonna have big fun on the bayou.
I'm going to have a great time on the river, by golly.

Jambalaya, crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
I will indulge in Jambalaya, crawfish pie and fillet gumbo.

Cause tonight I'm gonna see ma ch egravere amie-o
Because tonight I'll be meeting my dear friend.

Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o,
I'll play the guitar, fill my jar with fruit juice and be happy.

Son of a gun gonna have big fun on the bayou.
I'm going to have a great time on the river, by golly.

Fontainaux, Thibodaux, the place is buzzin',
Fontainaux and Thibodaux, the town is bustling.

People come to see Yvonne by the dozen.
People come in large numbers to see Yvonne.

Dress in style, go hog wild and be gay-o,
Get dressed up, have a wild time and be merry.