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 Camp Meeting Time
Grandpa Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How my heart would leap for joy to hear the old bells chime
Calling all the saints of God into the house of prayer
Oh such praying singing and shouting for the Lord was there
I like the old time preaching praying singing shouting
I like the old time reading of God's word
I like to hear those old time Hallelujah stories
Preaching in those good old days were filled with a holy flame
Preaching for the souls of men and not for worldly fame
Under such old fashion preaching sinner fell to pray
And the Lord would save them in that good old fashion way
I like the old time preaching praying singing shouting
I like the old time reading of God's word
I like to hear those old time Hallelujah stories
I like the old time worship of the Lord
In these latter days they say that there is no use to pray
All we need is to think religion 'tis a better way
But I'm here to tell you brother Jesus saves from sin
In that old time way He saved me He now dwells within
I like the old time preaching praying singing shouting
I like the old time reading of God's word
I like to hear those old time Hallelujah stories
I like the old time worship of the Lord
Grandpa Jones's song “Old Camp Meeting Time” is a nostalgic tribute to the old days of camp meetings, where people gathered to worship, sing and listen to preaching. The opening lyrics describe the joy and excitement of a young boy hearing the bells chime and calling the saints of God to come together in prayer. The singer reminisces about the old-fashioned preaching and worship that used to take place, with sermons that were full of a holy flame and aimed at saving the souls of men, instead of seeking worldly fame.
Grandpa Jones expresses his love for the old time preaching, praying, singing and shouting with the line, “I like the old time preaching, praying, singing, shouting.” He also highlights his fondness for the old-fashioned reading of God's Word, hearing old-time Hallelujah stories, and the worship of the Lord. The song suggests that the good old fashion way of preaching was more effective in drawing sinners to pray and get saved.
The final verse of the song is a defiant declaration of faith against the modern idea that there is no use in prayer. The singer proclaims that he has been saved in the old-fashioned way and that Jesus still saves from sin. The song's overall message is that there was something pure and special about the early days of worship that shouldn't be forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
Long ago when but a boy at old camp meeting time
When I was just a boy, I remember attending camp meetings and feeling immense joy when the old bells chimed.
How my heart would leap for joy to hear the old bells chime
The sound of the old bells would fill my heart with great joy and excitement.
Calling all the saints of God into the house of prayer
The bells were calling all the faithful believers to come to the house of prayer and worship the Lord.
Oh such praying singing and shouting for the Lord was there
During the meeting, the worshippers would pray, sing, and shout with joy for the Lord.
Preaching in those good old days were filled with a holy flame
The preaching during the old days was filled with a holy passion and an intense desire to save souls.
Preaching for the souls of men and not for worldly fame
The preachers of the old days were focused on saving souls rather than seeking worldly recognition and fame.
Under such old fashion preaching sinner fell to pray
The old-fashioned preaching was so powerful that sinners would fall to their knees and pray for salvation.
And the Lord would save them in that good old fashion way
Through the power of the old-fashioned preaching and faith in the Lord, sinners would be saved from their sins.
In these latter days they say that there is no use to pray
In modern times, some say that praying is pointless and there are better ways to seek spirituality.
All we need is to think religion 'tis a better way
Some believe that simply thinking about religion is a better way to connect with God than praying.
But I'm here to tell you brother Jesus saves from sin
However, Grandpa Jones believes that Jesus is the only way to be saved from sin, regardless of modern beliefs.
In that old time way He saved me He now dwells within
Grandpa Jones personally experienced the power of Jesus saving him in the old-fashioned way, and he still feels His presence within him.
Contributed by Isaiah W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@henryrollins4706
Merle, and Grand Pa. what a wonderful unequaled pair!!!
@gravityangel1225
0:00 Long ago when but a boy at old camp meeting time
How my heart would leap for joy to hear the old bells chime
Calling all the saints of God into the house of prayer
Oh such praying singing and shouting for the Lord was there
0:20 I like the old time preaching praying singing shouting
I like the old time reading of God's word
I like to hear those old time Hallelujah stories
I like the old time worship of the Lord
0:40 Preaching in those good old days were filled with a holy flame
Preaching for the souls of men and not for worldly fame
Under such old fashion preaching sinner fell to pray
And the Lord would save them in that good old fashion way
0:59 I like the old time preaching praying singing shouting
I like the old time reading of God's word
I like to hear those old time Hallelujah stories
I like the old time worship of the Lord
1:28 In these latter days they say that there is no use to pray
All we need is to think religion 'tis a better way
But I'm here to tell you brother Jesus saves from sin
In that old time way He saved me He now dwells within
1:46 I like the old time preaching praying singing shouting
I like the old time reading of God's word
I like to hear those old time Hallelujah stories
I like the old time worship of the Lord