Jambalaya
Gerry & The Pacemakers Lyrics
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We gotta go, take the pirogue down the bayou.
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we’re having fun on the bayou.
I said now
Come on, Joe, we gotta go, oh on the bayou
We gotta go, take the pirogue down the bayou.
Son of a gun, we’re having fun on the bayou.
CHORUS:
Well, Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
‘Cause tonight I’m gonna see oh my cher amio.
Oh now, pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gayo,
Son of a gun, gonna have big fun on the bayou.
Oh let’s go then!
- solo-
Well, come on, Joe, and now we gotta go, oh down the bayou.
Yeah, We gotta go, take the pirogue down to bayou.
Bring your Ma, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we’re having fun on the bayou.
Well, Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
‘Cause tonight I’m gonna see oh my cher amio.
Bring your Ma, fill fruit jar and be gayo,
Son of a gun, gonna have big fun on the bayou.
The lyrics to Gerry & The Pacemakers's song "Jambalaya" speaks of a joyous and spirited journey through the bayou. The singer, who is likely Gerry himself, invites Joe to come and join him on this adventure. They grab a pirogue, a type of flat-bottomed canoe, and make their way down the bayou while playing music and enjoying some homemade fruit jar moonshine. The chorus is a celebration of the Cajun cuisine they will indulge in - Jambalaya, a rice and meat dish, crawfish pie, a savory seafood pastry, and fillet gumbo, a soup-like stew cooked with vegetables, meat, and spices. The lyrics also mention "cher amio," which is French for "dear friend" or "sweetheart," implying that the singer is looking forward to spending time with a loved one.
The song captures the spirit of the Cajun culture that was popular in the 1950s and 60s, with its upbeat tempo, catchy melody, and simple yet charming lyrics. It was originally written and recorded by Hank Williams in 1952 and quickly became a country music classic. Gerry & The Pacemakers covered the song in 1964 and brought it to a wider audience, reaching the number one spot on the UK charts. While the song has been performed by many artists over the years, Gerry & The Pacemakers's rendition remains a beloved version that captures the essence of the Cajun lifestyle and the joy of living life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, Joe, we gotta go, me oh my oh.
Let's go, Joe, we don't have much time.
We gotta go, take the pirogue down the bayou.
We need to take a boat down the bayou.
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Let's play the guitar and have some drinks for fun.
Son of a gun, we’re having fun on the bayou.
We are enjoying ourselves on the bayou.
We gotta go, take the pirogue down the bayou.
We need to take a boat down the bayou.
Well, Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
We will enjoy local Cajun food tonight.
‘Cause tonight I’m gonna see oh my cher amio.
Tonight I will see my beloved.
Bring your Ma, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Bring your mother and let's have some drinks for fun.
Son of a gun, we’re having fun on the bayou.
We are enjoying ourselves on the bayou.
Contributed by Brayden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@miguelcolon221
Izzy loves British rock music 🎸 🎶 💘 Enjoy 1963.
@davidchapman6308
Love this song, now in my late 70's but remember it well from my Teens. Sorry I lost the LP somewhere on my travels, have not been able to find it on CD.
@danitmoreno7705
Always love the version of Gerry and the pacemaker.
@billhardy6187
Best version by Gerry & the boys great driving beat, 'ol Hank wouldn't recognise it baby believe me!
@torbenlarsen331
I think this is the best version ever 🙂
@garylynncook1560
Groovy
@steveendicott1855
RIP Gerry
@karengrabowski8624
Amazing song
@tonyvides6119
Great song,I love it,
@jonathanbennaman6753
REST IN PEACE Gerry Marsden