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"
Old Blue
Grandpa Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had an old dog and his name was Blue
Had an old dog and his name was Blue...
Betcha five dollars he's a good dog too...
"Here old Blue"
"Good dog you"
Well, I shouldered my axe and I tooted my horn
Old Blue treed and I went to see
Blue had 'possum up a tall oak tree
Mmm, boy I roast'd 'possum, nice and brown
Sweet po-ta-toes, n' all a-round...
And to say "Here old Blue (here-boy)
You can have some too"
Now, Old Blue died and he died so hard
Made a big dent in my back-yard
Dug his grave with a silver spade
Lowered him down with a link of chain
Ev-er-y link I did call his name...
Singing "Here... old... Blue-ue...
"Good dog you"
Now, when I get to heaven, first thing I'll do
When I get to heaven, first thing 'awm do
When I get to heaven first thing I'll do
Pull out my horn and call old Blue...
I'll say, "Here Old Blue come-on dog"
"Good dog you"
I'll say, "Here Blue-e"
"I'm a coming there too"
"Down boy... good dog"
The lyrics to Grandpa Jones's song "Old Blue" tell the story of a man and his loyal dog, Blue. The first verse introduces Blue and sets the tone for the rest of the song, revealing the close bond between the man and his dog. The chorus is a playful call-and-response between the man and Blue, with the man telling Blue to come and the dog responding as a good dog would.
The second verse shows the man going out to hunt for 'possum and taking Blue with him. Blue is able to track the 'possum up a tall oak tree, and the man roasts the 'possum for dinner. The sense of camaraderie between the man and his dog is palpable, with the man even offering the cooked 'possum to Blue as a reward for a job well done.
The final verse takes a somber turn when Blue passes away. The man buries him with great reverence, even lowering him into the ground with a link of chain, and sings a mournful tribute to his beloved companion. The final lines of the song reveal the man's hope to be reunited with Blue in heaven, where he can once again play his horn and be greeted by his trusty dog.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I had an old dog and his name was Blue
I once had an old dog that I called Blue
Had an old dog and his name was Blue
Yes, his name was Blue and he was an old dog
Betcha five dollars he's a good dog too
I bet you five dollars that he's a good dog
"Here old Blue"
Calling the old dog
"Good dog you"
Praising the old dog
Well, I shouldered my axe and I tooted my horn
I picked up my axe and blew my horn
Went to find 'possum in the new-grown corn
Went in search for a possum in the corn field
Old Blue treed and I went to see
Old Blue found the possum and I went to investigate
Blue had 'possum up a tall oak tree
Blue had treed the possum high up in an oak tree
Mmm, boy I roast'd 'possum, nice and brown
I roasted the possum until it was golden brown
Sweet po-ta-toes, n' all a-round...
I had the possum with sweet potatoes all around
And to say "Here old Blue (here-boy)
To call Blue over to share the meal
You can have some too"
Inviting the old dog to have some food
Now, Old Blue died and he died so hard
Old Blue died a difficult death
Made a big dent in my back-yard
He left a mark in my backyard when we buried him
Dug his grave with a silver spade
We dug his grave with a special silver shovel
Lowered him down with a link of chain
We lowered him down using a chain to be gentle
Ev-er-y link I did call his name...
At each link we lowered, we called his name
Singing "Here... old... Blue-ue...
We sang as we lowered him
"Good dog you"
Praising him even in his death
Now, when I get to heaven, first thing I'll do
When I die and go to heaven, I have a plan
When I get to heaven, first thing 'awm do
The first thing I'll do is something very specific
When I get to heaven first thing I'll do
I have a mission when I get to heaven
Pull out my horn and call old Blue...
I will blow my horn to call Blue in heaven
I'll say, "Here Old Blue come-on dog"
To call him to heaven to be with me
"Good dog you"
To show him that I still love him
I'll say, "Here Blue-e"
Calling his name once more
"I'm a coming there too"
Letting him know that I'll be joining him soon
"Down boy... good dog"
Saying goodbye to him for the last time
Contributed by Isaiah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JohnnyRebKy
My old bluetick hound died last week. This was his favorite song he loved it. Now I can’t listen to this without weeping like a child 😢. I love and miss you Blue
@kevanrice2971
They smart dogs
@paolo7237
I’m sorry for your loss, my friend 🥺😭😢
@lisacameron1216
I sing it to my dog, too
@MrGuitars8
Wish I could find a Bluetick . Great Hunting Dogs.
@mikeellis623
It always had to lose a fried.
@classicrocker889
Still Love this in 2024 !!!!! Old Blue.
@MrGuitars8
STILL LOVE THIS IN 2024 !!!!!
@robertmiller1655
What a Country legend. Unique banjo style. Him and String Bean were neighbors.
@ajledbetter2197
Yep, after they killed String Bean Grandpa put a tall fence around his property.