Born in the farming community of Niagara in Henderson County, Kentucky, Jones spent his teenage years in Akron, Ohio, where he began singing country music tunes on a radio show on WJW. In 1931, Jones joined the Pine Ridge String Band, which provided the musical accompaniment for the very popular Lum and Abner show. By 1935 his pursuit of a musical career took him to WBZ (AM) radio in Boston, Massachusetts where he met musician/songwriter Bradley Kincaid, who gave him the nickname "Grandpa" because of his off-stage grumpiness at early-morning radio shows. Jones liked the name and decided to create a stage persona based around it. Later in life, he lived in Mountain View, Arkansas.
Performing as Grandpa Jones, he played the guitar or banjo, yodeled, and sang mostly old-time ballads. By 1937, Jones had made his way to West Virginia, where Cousin Emmy taught Jones the art of the clawhammer style of banjo playing, which gave a rough backwoods flavor to his performances. In 1942, Jones joined WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was there that he met fellow Kentuckian Merle Travis. In 1943, they made their recording debuts together for Syd Nathan's upstart King Records. Jones was making records under his own name for King by 1944 and had his first hit with "It's Raining Here This Morning". His recording career was put on hold when he enlisted in the United States Army during World War II. Discharged in 1946, he recorded again for King. In March 1946, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee and started performing on the Grand Ole Opry and married Ramona Riggins on October 14, 1946. As an accomplished performer herself, she would take part in his performances. Jones' vaudeville humor was a bridge to television. His more famous songs include "T For Texas", "Are You From Dixie", "Night Train To Memphis" and "Mountain Dew". He also wrote "Eight More Miles To Louisville".
In 1969, Jones became a charter cast member on the long-running television show Hee Haw, often responding to the show's skits with his trademark phrase "Outrageous". He also played banjo, by himself or with banjo player David "Stringbean" Akeman. A musical segment featured in the early years had Jones and "his lovely wife Ramona" singing while ringing bells held in their hands and feet. A favorite skit had off-camera cast members ask, "Hey Grandpa, what's for supper?" He would describe a delicious, country-style meal ("Buttermilk biscuits smothered in chicken gravy, home-fried potatoes, collard greens and Grandmother's fresh-baked blueberry pie à la mode!" The cast would reply, "Yum, yum!"), though he sometimes would describe something not so good, ("Because you were bad, thawed out TV dinners!" The cast would scoff, "Yuck!") A running gag was a window that he pretended to polish had no glass. Jones would slip his fingers through the empty frame. He also joined Buck Owens, Roy Clark and Kenny Price in a gospel segment at the end of some shows.
A resident of rural Ridgetop, Tennessee outside of Nashville, he was a neighbor and friend of fellow musician David "Stringbean" Akeman. On the morning of November 11, 1973, Jones discovered the bodies of Akeman and his wife, who had been murdered during the night by robbers. Jones testified at the trial of the killers, his testimony helping to secure a conviction. He identified a firearm found in their possession as one he had given to Akeman.
In 1978, Jones was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His autobiography, Everybody's Grandpa: Fifty Years Behind The Mike was published in 1984 (written with assistance from Charles K. Wolfe).
In early January 1998, Jones suffered two strokes after his second show performance at the Grand Ole Opry. He died at 7:00 p.m. Central Time on February 19, 1998 at the McKendree village Home Health Center in Hermitage, Tennessee, at age 84. He was buried in the Luton Memorial Methodist Church cemetery in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.
Discography
Grandpa Jones Sings His Greatest Hits (1954)
Country Music Hall of Fame Series (1992) MCA
Grandpa Jones & The Brown's Ferry Four 16 Sacred Gospel Songs, King Records
Grandpa Jones Yodeling Hits (1963) Monument
Grandpa Jones Remembers The Brown's Ferry Four (1966) Monument
Singles
1944 "It's Raining Here This Morning"
1946 "Eight More Miles To Louisville"
1947 "Mountain Dew"
1947 "Old Rattler"
1959 "The All-American Boy"
1962 "T for Texas"
1963 "Night Train To Memphis"
Are You From Dixie
Grandpa Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hello there stranger how do you do
there's something I'd like to say to you
You seem surprised I recognize
I'm no detective but I just surmise
You're from the place I'm longing to be
You're from my homeland my sunny homeland
tell me can it be?
Are you from Dixie I say from Dixie where the fields of
cotton beckon to me
I'm glad to see you tell me I'll be you and the friend
I'm longing to see
Are you from Alabama Tennessee or Caroline
Any place below the Mason Dixon Line
Are you from Dixie I say from Dixie 'cause I'm from Dixie
too.
It was a way back in old '89
When first I crossed that Mason Dixon Line
Gee but again I long to return
To those good old folks I left behind
My home was way down in old Alabam'
On the plantation near Birmingham
and there's one thing certain I'm surely flirtin'
With those southbound trains
The song 'Are You From Dixie' is a joyful and nostalgic celebration of the southern region of the United States, often simply referred to as Dixie. The opening lines of the song set the tone, with the singer addressing a stranger and expressing their longing for the place this person comes from. The lyrics are full of warmth and a kind of homesickness, as the singer describes their deep connection to the cotton fields, sunshine, and smiling faces of the American South.
The song also contains references to the Mason-Dixon line, which was drawn in the late 1700s to mark the border between Pennsylvania and Maryland. The line became an enduring symbol of the North-South divide during the American Civil War, and 'Are You From Dixie' suggests that for some people, the Mason-Dixon line continues to separate two fundamentally different ways of life. The song's lyrics evoke a sense of longing for a simpler, happier time, when life moved at a slower pace and people had a greater connection to the land and to each other.
In many ways, the song is a tribute to the people and culture of the South, and a reminder of the shared values and traditions that unite us all. It's a song that celebrates the pleasures of friendship and community, and reminds us of the deep bonds that connect us to the places we call home.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello there stranger how do you do
Grandpa Jones greets the listener.
there's something I'd like to say to you
Grandpa Jones has something on his mind and wants to share it.
You seem surprised I recognize
The listener did not expect Grandpa Jones to know them.
I'm no detective but I just surmise
Grandpa Jones is not trying to figure anything out, but rather feels confident about his assumption.
You're from the place I'm longing to be
Grandpa Jones believes the listener is from the area he wishes to visit.
your smiling face seems to say to me
The listener's expression gives Grandpa Jones further indication of their origin.
You're from my homeland my sunny homeland
Grandpa Jones associates the listener's appearance with his own home state.
tell me can it be?
Grandpa Jones seeks confirmation from the listener.
Are you from Dixie I say from Dixie where the fields of cotton beckon to me
Grandpa Jones repeats his suspicion that the listener hails from the South.
I'm glad to see you tell me I'll be you and the friend I'm longing to see
Grandpa Jones expresses enthusiasm about potentially reconnecting with an old acquaintance or having made a new friend.
Are you from Alabama Tennessee or Caroline
Grandpa Jones lists several states he associates with his American South homeland.
Any place below the Mason Dixon Line
Grandpa Jones includes the entire region he is romantically attached to.
Are you from Dixie I say from Dixie 'cause I'm from Dixie too.
Grandpa Jones reveals that he too originates from the area he is asking the listener about.
It was a way back in old '89
Grandpa Jones reminisces about almost 100 years ago.
When first I crossed that Mason Dixon Line
Grandpa Jones recalls his own journey from the North to the South.
Gee but again I long to return
Grandpa Jones once again expresses his desire to go back to his roots.
To those good old folks I left behind
Grandpa Jones misses the people from his past.
My home was way down in old Alabam'
Grandpa Jones identifies a specific location he calls home.
On the plantation near Birmingham
Grandpa Jones gives more details about where he comes from.
and there's one thing certain I'm surely flirtin' With those southbound trains
Grandpa Jones seems to suggest he is considering leaving again, possibly back to the North.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE L. COBB, JACK YELLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
alxtgee1
You can tell how much fun Grandpa was always having pickin and singin
Aileen
You can hear in all of Billy Murray's recordings he really loved to sing.
nick Angelo
He was a natural entertainer!!!! He could sing and when hit that banjo it rang out and you couldn’t help but to smile and feel good . There will never be another Grandpa !!!!!
kraig7777
He was ahead of his time in the way he rocked out with his vocals.
PRR5406
The chords to this song are not difficult, but his expertise in frailing the banjo was phenomenal. I'd have loved to have met him.
Zarban
I would kill for a heavy metal remix of this. Grandpa was a wailer!
A M Siriano
Sending your comment on to Andre Antunes.
Test Tickles
@A M Siriano anything come of it?
A M Siriano
@Test Tickles Afraid not.
Fran Shelton
I saw him in person at a bluegrass festival 50 years ago and he was a great performer. I wonder if there are any pictures of him without his makeup and outfit.