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"
Jesse James
Grandpa Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He robbed many bank and train
He was leader of a band, a bold and wicked band
Many are the people that were slain
Oh no more, Jesse James! No more, Jesse James!
'Cause they laid poor Jesse is his grave!
As he went to turn his head, little Bobby shot him dead
And they laid poor Jesse in his grave!
his aim was deadly and true!
With his pistol by his side, well he wandered far and wide
as many robber men do!
Oh no more, Jesse James! No more, Jesse James!
'Cause they laid poor Jesse is his grave!
As he went to turn his head, little Bobby shot him dead
And they laid poor Jesse in his grave!
Jesse James had a wife, who mourned all her life
because of Jesse's wicked ways
but she couldn't stay his hand, and stop the robber band
her grief made her old and grey
But his end came at last, from a bullet quick and fast
from a commrad he trusted in his band
and the debt he paid was just,
when they laid him in the dust
he had been such a para in the land
Oh no more, Jesse James! No more, Jesse James!
'Cause they laid poor Jesse is his grave!
As he went to turn his head, little Bobby shot him dead
And they laid poor Jesse in his grave!
The song "Jesse James" by Grandpa Jones tells the story of the notorious outlaw Jesse James, who was best known for robbing banks and trains during the late 19th century. The song details Jesse's life of crime and the ultimate end to his infamous career. Jesse James was the leader of a "bold and wicked band" who killed many people throughout the course of their robberies. But Jesse's end came when "little Bobby shot him dead," referring to Jesse's own gang member who betrayed and killed him. The lyrics imply that Jesse's wife mourned him for the remainder of her life, yet she could never stop his criminal ways.
The song captures the legendary status of Jesse James. He was a complex figure and an enigma to those who knew him. He was like a Robin Hood figure, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, at least in the eyes of some who admired him. But on the other hand, he was a cold-blooded killer who took the lives of many innocent people. The song "Jesse James" touches on both sides of his character, portraying him as a charismatic leader of a group of outlaws, but also making it clear that he was a man beyond redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesse James was a man, who rambled through the land
Jesse James was a wandering man, who traveled throughout the land
He robbed many bank and train
He committed numerous bank and train robberies
He was leader of a band, a bold and wicked band
Jesse was the leader of a group of bold and immoral people
Many are the people that were slain
They killed many people during their criminal activities
Oh no more, Jesse James! No more, Jesse James!
There will be no more Jesse James robbing and killing
'Cause they laid poor Jesse is his grave!
Jesse was killed and buried
As he went to turn his head, little Bobby shot him dead
Jesse was shot and killed by Bobby when he turned his head
And they laid poor Jesse in his grave!
His body was buried in the ground
Jesse was an expert shot, his bullets found the spot,
Jesse was a skilled marksman who hit his targets accurately
his aim was deadly and true!
His shots were lethal and accurate
With his pistol by his side, well he wandered far and wide
Jesse carried his pistol and traveled over long distances
as many robber men do!
Like many other robbers
Jesse James had a wife, who mourned all her life
Jesse's wife grieved throughout her life
because of Jesse's wicked ways
Due to Jesse's immoral actions
but she couldn't stay his hand, and stop the robber band
She was unable to stop Jesse or his gang's criminal behavior
her grief made her old and grey
Her sorrow caused her to age prematurely
But his end came at last, from a bullet quick and fast
Jesse's life came to an end when he was shot quickly
from a commrad he trusted in his band
His trusted comrade was the one who shot him
and the debt he paid was just,
He paid for his crimes with his life
when they laid him in the dust
He was buried in the dirt
he had been such a para in the land
He had been such a troublemaker in the country
Writer(s): Mack Jones
Contributed by Hudson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dlloyd5288
I remember my father singing this song when I was a boy. Good memories.
@johnbernardarsenault4863
Xbest Jesse James song
@michaelmcgee7953
+john bernard Arsenault jesse james is a renob
@curtisneilson5829
Yee Haw !
@elmerlarimer9026
gandpa jones good
@sharonlaforme2964
Austina
@americanoutlaw4681
I’m related to Jesse James
@jonwalts2763
what a shame
@yy19aos
awesome