During the late 1950s, Crosby was a member of a local Oneonta teen band called The Tones. The band traveled to Philadelphia to audition for Dick Clark's "American Bandstand", but were turned down. Members of the band found Dick Clark's house and were able to get a recommendation to audition at New York City's Baton Records through the company's lead producer Sol Rabinowitz. The band was given a recording contract, but the studio wanted a quintet backed by studio musicians, which left Crosby and another member out of their recordings.
After high school, Crosby joined the National Guard, but his thirst for adventure led him to go AWOL and roam the country busking for a living in areas like New Orleans, Texas, Florida, and New York. He played mostly ukulele until Harriet Ottenheimer, one of the founders of The Quorum, got him settled on a guitar in 1963. He adopted his stage name "Jerry Jeff Walker" in 1966. He spent his early folk music days in Greenwich Village in the mid 1960s. He co-founded a band with Bob Bruno in the late 1960s called Circus Maximus that put out two albums one with the popular west coast hit "Wind", but Bruno's interest in jazz apparently diverged from Walker's interest in folk music. Walker thus resumed his solo career and recorded the seminal album "Mr. Bojangles" with the help of David Bromberg and other influential Atlantic recording artists. He settled in Austin, Texas, in the 1970s associating mainly with the country-rock outlaw scene that included artists such as Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Waylon Jennings, and Townes Van Zandt.
"Mr. Bojangles" (written by Walker) is perhaps his most well-known and most-often covered song. It was about an obscure alcoholic but talented tap-dancing drifter, (not the famous stage and movie dancer Bill Robinson, as usually assumed). Bojangles is thought to have been a folk character who entertained informally in the south of the US and California, and some say he might have been one of the most gifted natural dancers ever. Authentic reports of him exist from the 1920s through about 1965. Artists from Nina Simone to Bob Dylan, Philip Glass to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, have covered the song. Walker has also recorded songs written by others such as "LA Freeway" (Guy Clark), and "Up Against the Wall Red Neck Mother" (Ray Wylie Hubbard).
A string of records for MCA and Elektra followed Jerry Jeff's move to Austin, before he gave up on the mainstream music business and formed his own independent record label. Tried & True Music was founded in 1986, with his wife Susan as President and manager. Susan also founded Goodknight Music as his management company and Tried & True Artists for his bookings. A series of increasingly autobiographical records followed under the Tried & True imprint. Tried & True also sells his autobiography called "Gypsy Songman". In 2004, Jerry Jeff released his first DVD of songs from his past as performed in an intimate setting in Austin, TX.
He interpreted the songs of others like Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark, Keith Sykes, Paul Siebel, Bob Dylan, Todd Snider and even a rodeo clown named Billy Jim Baker.
His son, Django Walker, is also a musician. In addition to his residence in Austin, Walker had a retreat on Ambergris Caye in Belize where he recorded his "Cowboy Boots and Bathing Suits" album in 1998.
Members of his band varied over the years. The Lost Gonzo Band and the Gonzo Compadres have backed him in the past. Key members of his band included Craig Hillis - guitarist and arranger on Viva Terlingua, John Inmon, Freddy Krc, Gary P. Nunn, Bob Livingston, Bobby Rambo, Mitch Watkins, Steve Samuel, David Bromberg and others.
About Her Eyes
Jerry Jeff Walker Lyrics
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About her eyes, now they're misty shinin'
About her hair, it's long and clean
About her face, now it's soft and smiling
But you can't trace her thoughts 'cause they can't be seen
When she flows by you so gently
When she speaks it's barely a whisper
That tries to hide but you know it's there
She smiles at you and it sends you sailin'
It sweeps you yonder along in the night
You glide with ease and you hardly feel it
But you tell you're driftin' in a moments flight
When she leaves you become quite drowsy
So you recline in your easy chair
She's left you there to think in silence
About her eyes, her face, and her hair
The lyrics of Jerry Jeff Walker's song "About Her Eyes" describe the physical attributes of a woman, but also note the mystery and depth that lies beyond her appearance. The first line of the chorus sets the tone with the phrase "now they're misty shinin'", indicating that there is something ethereal and otherworldly about this woman's eyes. The following lines describe her hair as "long and clean" and her face as "soft and smiling", painting a picture of a woman who is both beautiful and approachable.
However, the singer acknowledges that there is much more to this woman than what can be seen on the surface. He notes that "you can't trace her thoughts 'cause they can't be seen", implying that she is complex and difficult to understand. Despite this, when she is near, she brings a sense of calm and clarity, as if she is a breath of fresh air. Her voice is described as a whisper, indicating that she is not one to draw attention to herself, but her presence is still felt.
The chorus ends with the image of the singer being swept away by this woman's smile, becoming lost in the moment and feeling like he is drifting away. When she eventually leaves, he is left feeling drowsy and introspective, considering the impact she has had on him. The song captures the allure of a fascinating, enigmatic woman who leaves a lasting impression on those she encounters.
Line by Line Meaning
About her eyes, now they're misty shinin'
Her eyes glisten with tears, either from joy or sadness.
About her hair, it's long and clean
Her hair is healthy and well-maintained, and serves as a complement to her features.
About her face, now it's soft and smiling
Her face has a gentle expression imbued with happiness.
But you can't trace her thoughts 'cause they can't be seen
Even though her emotions may be reflected through her appearance, it's hard to decipher what she's thinking.
When she flows by you so gently
Her presence is peaceful and calming.
She brings a breeze that just cleans the air
Her aura seems to cleanse the environment, refreshing those who are near.
When she speaks it's barely a whisper
Her voice is gentle and subtle.
That tries to hide but you know it's there
She may not be very vocal, but her presence is evident and noteworthy.
She smiles at you and it sends you sailin'
Her smile has the ability to elate and uplift spirits.
It sweeps you yonder along in the night
Her positive energy carries you away, making you feel invigorated.
You glide with ease and you hardly feel it
Her energy seems to radiate freely, allowing others to feel at ease and in flow.
But you tell you're driftin' in a moments flight
You can feel yourself drifting away, surrendering to her energy and influence.
When she leaves you become quite drowsy
As her energy departs, you may feel tired or drained.
So you recline in your easy chair
You may need to take a moment to rest and reflect after experiencing her energy.
She's left you there to think in silence
You're left with your thoughts, pondering the fleeting experience you just had with her.
About her eyes, her face, and her hair
Her features continue to linger on in your mind, filling you with a sense of wonder and fascination.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KEITH SYKES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind