Other artists to record his music over time included Elvis Presley, Cher, Joan Baez, Waylon Jennings, John Denver, Glen Campbell, Tanya Tucker,Arlo Guthrie, Martha Reeves and even 90's Cali punk band Ten Foot Pole.
Early Career :
The young Hoyt was an All-American athlete replete with football scholarship to Oklahoma State University, which he soon left to join the U.S Navy. During his military stint he was the heavyweight champion boxer in his task force division of 35 ships.
After serving in the armed forces, he arrived in Nashville with a guitar on a tip from his mother Mae Boren Axton (who co-wrote Heartbreak Hotel for Elvis Presley). Hoyt soon split Tennesee for California's burgeoning folk scene during the early 60's. He played the clubs in San Francisco's North Beach and made the scene in L.A as well.
Roger McGuinn remembered Hoyt Axton as a struggling singer who taught him a tune backstage in 1962 at the Troubadour in L.A. "We recorded it live at the Troubadour later that week, and when it came out, I was surprised to see the credit "Here as well is the delightful Australian folk ballad, Brisbane Ladies, on which Jimmy McQuinn of the Chad Mitchell Trio harmonizes with Hoyt." In spite of the misspelled name, I was glad to have been able to sing with Hoyt. I really loved the song too!" The song appeared on Hoyt's debut LP for the Horizon label, McGuinn later formed the Byrds with David Crosby.
Axton's songwriting prowess was eventually noticed after the Kingston Trio recorded Greenback Dollar in 1963 just hours after seeing Axton live. The song eventually appeared on 3 Billboard charting albums but Hoyt made a mere $800.00 from the song..."I was just a kid with a guitar living in a car... How could I sue when the whole point of the song was how I didn't give a damn about a greenback dollar?"
Paying Dues, Paying Bills :
In the late 60's Steppenwolf eventually recorded Axton's The Pusher and Snowblind Friend, two dramatic denouncements of the dark side of drug use. John Kay, a young aspiring singer and dishwasher also used to see Axton perform in the early 60's around L.A. He later told Axton, 'When you sang 'The Pusher,' I'd come out of the kitchen with a towel in my hand, saying that if I ever get a band, I'm gonna record that song'."
The Pusher, in particular, paid off at a good time for Hoyt: "I had two houses, three kids, two cars, $400 in the bank and bills to pay. The bank repossessed the Mercedes-Benz, and said I'd never get credit again," he remembers. "One Saturday morning, I went to the mailbox and there was a check for $14,000 for the use of the song in the film Easy Rider".
Hits like "Never Been To Spain" ("but i kinda like the music") and "The No Song" ("No, no, no, I don't smoke it no more") which went to number three on the U.S. charts for the newly solo Ringo Starr helped keep the money rolling in.
His songs seemed to showcase his optimism and singular sense of humor. A version of Joy to The World by Three Dog Night became the biggest selling record of 1971 ("Jeremiah was a bullfrog..."). Axton's own singing hits included "Boney Fingers" ("Work your fingers to the bone, what do you get? Boney fingers"). "When the Morning Comes", a duet he recorded with Linda Ronstadt from 1974's Life Machine album, which went to number one on the Canadian charts.
As the singer songwriter trend dried up in the latter 70's Axton continued to record for his own label Jeremiah, beginning in '78. 1979's " Rusty Old Halo" album produced his last two major hits, " Della and the Dealer" and the title track.
Later Career:
Axton had numerous negative music business dealings with many labels and by the early nineties his work on Horizon, A&M, Vee-Jay and MCA was mostly left out of print by short sighted label execs. Maintaining a steady concert schedule was a priority throughout the seventies and eighties that found Axton playing as many as 300 dates a year. He also got in front of the camera, first guesting on "Bonanza" in the 1960's, and then eventually on dozens of TV programs including : "Hootenanny", "Hee-Haw", "Diff'rent Strokes","The Dukes of Hazzard", "Trapper John MD","WKRP in Cincinatti" as well as popular feature films like "The Black Stallion" and "Gremlins". His voice was used in TV commercials for Busch beer, Pizza Hut, and even McDonald's where he was the singing lumberjack who introduced the then-new Big Mac. Hoyt reportedly liked doing commercials so much he didn't even consider it work. He also did voiceover narration for educational films. He bought his ranch in Montana, after playing a sheriff in the movie ''Disorganized Crime,'' filmed there in 1988.
He suffered a debilitating stroke in 1996, and a then suffered a demoralizing medical marijuana bust in 1997 for which he received a three year deferred sentence and was fined $15,000. His health was not good these last few months, including advanced complications from diabetes, spending most of his time in a wheelchair. Axton finally passed away a few days after suffering a heart attack during surgery in a Bitteroot Montana hospital.
A spokesperson for the Academy of Country Music told Associated Press after his death "There was nobody that didn't like Hoyt".
Joy To The World
Hoyt Axton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was a good friend of mine
I never understood a single word he said
But I helped him a-drink his wine
And he always had some mighty fine wine
Singin'
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
If I were the king of the world
Tell you what I'd do
I'd throw away the cars and the bars and the wars
And make sweet love to you
Sing it now
{Refrain}
You know I love the ladies
Love to have my fun
I'm a high night flier and a rainbow rider
And a straight-shootin' son of a gun
I said a straight-shootin' son of a gun
{Refrain twice}
Second time: / E - A - / / E E7 A Am / E B7 E - /
The song "Joy to the World" by Hoyt Axton tells a story of friendship, love, and happiness. The first verse talks about a bullfrog named Jeremiah who was a good friend of the singer, though he did not understand his words. The singer helped Jeremiah to drink his wine, which was always mighty fine. In the chorus, the singer celebrates the joy that exists in the world, exhorting everyone to share in it, from boys and girls to fishes in the deep blue sea. The song does not follow a traditional Christmas theme like other songs titled "Joy to the World," but it celebrates a more general sense of joy and kindness.
The second verse of the song begins with the singer expressing his desire to become the king of the world. He then goes on to explain that, as king, he would eradicate everything that ruins people's lives, such as cars, bars, and wars, and instead, make sweet love to his beloved. The singer is a lover of women and is always having fun, living life to the fullest. In the end, he declares himself a straight shooter and a son of a gun.
Line by Line Meaning
Jeremiah was a bull frog
A bull frog named Jeremiah was a good friend of mine.
Was a good friend of mine
Jeremiah was someone who I counted as a close friend.
I never understood a single word he said
Jeremiah used to say things that I found incomprehensible.
But I helped him a-drink his wine
I used to aid Jeremiah in drinking his wine.
And he always had some mighty fine wine
Jeremiah's wine was of a particularly good and strong quality.
Singin'
At this point, the singer begins to sing.
{Refrain}
The refrain consists of several lines that extol the virtues of joy.
Joy to the world
The singer wishes that everyone in the world will experience joy.
All the boys and girls
This sentiment extends to children as well as adults.
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Even fish should experience joy in their underwater habitats.
Joy to you and me
The singer is including himself and others in this message of joy.
If I were the king of the world
The singer imagines what he would do if he held the title of king of the world.
Tell you what I'd do
He then proceeds to explain his vision for the world if he had such power.
I'd throw away the cars and the bars and the wars
He would get rid of certain negative aspects of modern life: automobiles, drinking establishments, and warfare.
And make sweet love to you
In contrast to these negatives, he would engage in pleasant, intimate relations with a loved one.
Sing it now
The singer reminds the audience to join in and sing the refrain with him.
{Refrain}
The second rendition of the refrain reiterates and emphasizes the message of joy.
{Refrain twice}
The singer ends the song with a stirring repetition of the refrain.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEROY ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aletaboyette9634
Well I've learned something! I never knew Mr. Axton wrote 'Joy to the World ' recorded by Three Dog Night! Phenomenal.
@richardmcdonald6237
He also wrote Never Been to Spain.
@jenniferorellana1742
There will never be a voice like Hoyt’s
@scottwood9181
Axton explained in the Oregon News-Review: "Jeremiah was an expedient of the time. I had the chorus for three months. I took a drink of wine, leaned on the speaker, and said 'Jeremiah was a bullfrog.' It was meaningless. It was a temporary lyric. Before I could rewrite it, they cut it and it was a hit."
@markrush5013
hoyt is a goddamn massive legend.....mexico city hangover is my theme song...rest in peace Hoyt .we love you!
@ChihuahuaboyDH
I all the years I've been aware of this fine song, I've only known the Three Dog Night version. I knew Hoyt Axton wrote this. Both versions of "Joy To The World" are excellent! R.I.P., Hoyt Axton & Joe Schermie (TDN).
@alexrebmann1253
He also wrote Well I Never Been To Spain another song done by Three Dog Night.
@ericdee6802
Three dog night did a fantastic cover of this song.
@markrush5942
massive legend!!!
@Gravitating
Can't believe the Dad from Gremlins wrote This.. Mind Blown..