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.
Follow
Jerry Jeff Walker Lyrics
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Climb to the treetops, little child, if you're able
Always let your hands tie a knot across the table
Come and touch the things you cannot feel
Fold your fingertips, girl, and find where I can't hold you
Let the sun ray fall and let the dewey ground unfold you
If all the things you feel ain't what they seem to be
Don't you mind me girl, 'cause I ain't really nothin' but a dream
I hold some grapes up to the sun
Flavor breaks and bursts and rolls upon my tongue
Eager tongues, we'll always taste our strife
Fill up our lungs with seeds of life
You come and taste and smell the waters of our times
Close your lips, child, so softly I might kiss you
Let your flower perfume out and let the winds come and caress you
As I walk this garden I am hoping I don't miss you
The things you taste and smell ain't what they seem
Don't you mind me girl, I guess I'm nothin' but a walking dream
The sun and moon both are right
We'll see them soon through all our days and night
But the colors I see in your eyes are fiery bright
I swear they blind the heavens with all their light
Come and see what your eyes cannot see
Close your eyes, child and look while I show you
Let your mind go reeling out and let the breezes just blow you
Someday we'll meet again and suddenly I'll know you
All the things that you see ain't what they seem to be
Now don't mind me I ain't nothin' but a dream
A mockingbird sings each different song
Each song has wings and won't stay long
Those who hear him think he's doing wrong
While the church bell and school bell toll their one note song
Come hear where your ears cannot hear
Close your ears child and listen while I tell you
Follow the darkest night, the sounds they may impel you
Even the song I'm singing may disturb or serve to quell you
All the sounds you hear aren't what they seem to be
Don't you mind me girl, oh, I ain't nothing but a dream
If you can follow, girl, follow, girl
If you can follow, girl, follow
The song "Follow" by Jerry Jeff Walker is a beautiful piece of poetry particularly due to the metaphors it employs. The song is a message to a child, with the singer encouraging the child to explore and experience the world fully, both physically and emotionally. He suggests that they should let the rivers rock them like a cradle, climb to the treetops if they're able, and touch the things they cannot feel. He implores the child to see beyond what is apparent and listen to sounds that are not audible, to smell and taste things beyond the obvious.
The metaphorical language is particularly potent here as it speaks to the idea of the limitations of the physical world, and how we can transcend them through exploration, curiosity, and imagination. By experiencing the full range of sensory possibilities available to us, we can expand our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Throughout the song, the singer suggests that all that can be perceived is not always what it seems to be, and that there is more to life than what is readily apparent. In the end, he sees himself as a dream, a fleeting perception that is only a small part of a larger picture, but one that is important in its own way.
Line by Line Meaning
Let the rivers rock you like a cradle
Allow the flowing rivers to embrace and soothe you.
Climb to the treetops, little child, if you're able
If you can, go up high and marvel at the beauty of the world.
Always let your hands tie a knot across the table
Hold tight to the ones you love and cherish the moments together.
Come and touch the things you cannot feel
Experience the world beyond what you can physically sense.
Fold your fingertips, girl, and find where I can't hold you
Open up and explore the unknown without anybody else controlling your journey.
Let the sun ray fall and let the dewey ground unfold you
Bask in the warmth of the sun and let nature's beauty surround you.
I know someday you'll sing to me the words I've just told you
Eventually, you'll understand the depth and meaning of my words.
If all the things you feel ain't what they seem to be
Don't be fooled by appearances and trust your instincts.
Don't you mind me girl, 'cause I ain't really nothin' but a dream
Don't worry about me, as I am merely an elusive illusion.
I hold some grapes up to the sun
I marvel at the beauty of grapes illuminated by sunlight.
Flavor breaks and bursts and rolls upon my tongue
I taste the flavors of life and appreciate their diversity.
Eager tongues, we'll always taste our strife
We will always be curious and accept challenges to grow stronger.
Fill up our lungs with seeds of life
Breathe in the power of life and accept its gifts.
You come and taste and smell the waters of our times
Experience the essence of our times and learn from it.
Close your lips, child, so softly I might kiss you
Quiet yourself, and let me show you how much I care.
Let your flower perfume out and let the winds come and caress you
Embrace your unique beauty and let the wind remind you of your strength.
As I walk this garden I am hoping I don't miss you
I hope to see you soon and rekindle our friendship.
The things you taste and smell ain't what they seem
Be mindful that appearances can be deceiving.
Don't you mind me girl, I guess I'm nothin' but a walking dream
Don't worry about me, as I am just a figment of your imagination.
The sun and moon both are right
The sun and moon are in perfect harmony.
We'll see them soon through all our days and night
We will always have their light to follow.
But the colors I see in your eyes are fiery bright
The intensity and passion in your eyes are mesmerizing.
I swear they blind the heavens with all their light
Your beauty radiates beyond earthly limits.
Come and see what your eyes cannot see
Explore the unknown and discover new wonders.
Close your eyes, child and look while I show you
Let me guide you through the darkness and reveal the hidden beauty.
Let your mind go reeling out and let the breezes just blow you
Free your mind and let the wind carry you away.
Someday we'll meet again and suddenly I'll know you
We will reunite and feel an instant connection.
All the things that you see ain't what they seem to be
Remember to look past appearances and seek the truth.
Now don't mind me I ain't nothin' but a dream
Don't concern yourself with me, as I am a mere fantasy.
A mockingbird sings each different song
A mockingbird is unique and sings its own tune.
Each song has wings and won't stay long
Each melody is fleeting and cannot be caught.
Those who hear him think he's doing wrong
Those who misunderstand may judge the bird unfairly.
While the church bell and school bell toll their one note song
The familiar chimes of church and school signify routine and order.
Come hear where your ears cannot hear
Listen closely, beyond what you can detect with your ears.
Close your ears child and listen while I tell you
Ignore the noise and focus on my message.
Follow the darkest night, the sounds they may impel you
Learn from the difficult times and let them guide you forward.
Even the song I'm singing may disturb or serve to quell you
My words may be unsettling, but they could also bring peace.
All the sounds you hear aren't what they seem to be
Pay attention to the sounds of the world and recognize their true nature.
Don't you mind me girl, oh, I ain't nothing but a dream
Don't worry about me, as I am just a figment of your imagination.
If you can follow, girl, follow, girl
If you can understand my message, then come along.
If you can follow, girl, follow
If you can keep up with my journey, then join me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY MERRICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind