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.
Sangria Wine
Jerry Jeff Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man it's nice to make up some sangria wine
It's organic and it comes from the vine
Oh, and it's legal and it gets you so high
And I love that sangria wine
When I'm drinkin' with old friends of mine
Yeah I love that sangria wine
When I'm drinkin' with old friends of mine
Whoa oh oh, woah oh oh, I love sangria wine
Whoa oh oh, woah oh oh, I love sangria wine
Start with some apples and wine
Blend in some brandy and some sugar's fine
Yeah old friends always roll up on time
That's why you add sparkling Burgundy wine
Yeah I love that sangria wine
When I'm drinkin' with old friends of mine
Yeah I love that sangria wine
When I'm drinkin' with old friends of mine
Whoa oh oh, woah oh oh, I love sangria wine
Whoa oh oh, woah oh oh, I love sangria wine
In Austin on a Saturday night
Ever clear is dumped into the wine sometimes
Then you add nachos and tacos, burritos you know
Here is how it usually goes, it goes
Whoa oh oh, woah oh oh, I love sangria wine
Whoa oh oh, woah oh oh, I love sangria wine
All that's left to do is drink the wine
Just lay back and watch the time go byOld friends tell the truth when mixed with the wine
That's why I blend in all the lemons and limes
Yeah I love that sangria wine
When I'm drinkin' with old friends of mine
Yeah I love that sangria wine
When I'm drinkin' with old friends of mine
Whoa oh oh, woah oh oh, I love sangria wine
Whoa oh oh, woah oh oh, I love sangria wine
The lyrics to Jerry Jeff Walker's song "Sangria Wine" are a tribute to the camaraderie and pleasure that comes with enjoying good wine in good company. The song begins by expressing the joy of having old friends over on a Saturday night, and how making Sangria Wine is a part of that tradition. The lyrics go on to describe how the wine is made with organic ingredients sourced from the vine and blended with brandy, sugar, and sparkling Burgundy wine. The song ends with the idea that while Sangria Wine is meant to be enjoyed with friends, it is also a truth serum that can reveal hidden truths.
The lyrics to "Sangria Wine" capture the essence of enjoying wine as a social activity. Wine has long been seen as a communal beverage, bringing people together in conversation and laughter. The lyrics describe the process of making the wine, which is a time-honored ritual in many cultures. The addition of brandy, sugar, and sparkling wine creates a sweet and aromatic blend that is both refreshing and intoxicating. The addition of lemons and limes adds a touch of tartness that balances the sweetness of the wine. The song's lyrics celebrate the joy of drinking wine with friends, and how it can help us to let our guard down and reveal our true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
Friends come for Saturday night
Jerry Jeff's friends gather around for a great night
Man it's nice to make up some sangria wine
Jerry Jeff loves making sangria wine
It's organic and it comes from the vine
The ingredients of the sangria wine come naturally from the vine
Oh, and it's legal and it gets you so high
Sangria wine is legal to drink and provides great enjoyment
And I love that sangria wine
Jerry Jeff's deep affection for sangria wine
When I'm drinkin' with old friends of mine
Jerry Jeff enjoys drinking sangria wine with his longtime friends
Start with some apples and wine
The recipe for making sangria wine starts with apples and wine
Blend in some brandy and some sugar's fine
Jerry Jeff uses brandy and sugar to enhance the taste of the sangria wine
Old friends always roll up on time
Jerry Jeff's friends never miss out on the sangria wine gathering
That's why you add sparkling Burgundy wine
Sparkling Burgundy wine is added to the mix to keep the party going
In Austin on a Saturday night
This scene takes place in Austin on a weekend evening
Ever clear is dumped into the wine sometimes
Ever clear, a brand of high-proof distilled spirits, is occasionally added to the sangria wine for a stronger buzz
Then you add nachos and tacos, burritos you know
The food served alongside sangria wine is often Mexican cuisine
Here is how it usually goes, it goes
This is the typical flow of events on a sangria wine evening
All that's left to do is drink the wine
The only thing left to do is enjoy the sangria wine
Just lay back and watch the time go by
Relax and enjoy the company of friends with sangria wine
Old friends tell the truth when mixed with the wine
Sangria wine tends to bring out honesty in Jerry Jeff's long-term friends
That's why I blend in all the lemons and limes
To balance out the sweetness of the sangria wine, Jerry Jeff adds in lemons and limes
Whoa oh oh, woah oh oh, I love sangria wine
Jerry Jeff's ultimate love for sangria wine
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JERRY JEFF WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@philipshirk729
Lyrics
Friends come for Saturday night
Man it's nice to make up some Sangria wine
It's organic and it comes from the vine
Oh and it's legal and it gets you so high
And I love that Sangria wine
When I'm drinking with old friends of mine
Yeah I love that Sangria wine
When I'm drinking with old friends of mine
Whoa oh oh Woah oh oh I love Sangria wine
Whoa oh oh Woah oh oh I love Sangria wine
Start with some apples and wine
Blend in some brandy and some sugar’s fine
Yeah old friends always roll up on time
That's why you add Sparkling Burgandy wine
Yeah I love that Sangria wine
When I'm drinking with old friends of mine
Yeah I love that Sangria wine
When I'm drinking with old friends of mine
Whoa oh oh Woah oh oh I love Sangria wine
Whoa oh oh Woah oh oh I love Sangria wine
In Austin on a Saturday night
Everclear is dumped into the wine sometimes
Then you add nachos and tacos, burritos you know
Here is how it usually goes, it goes
Whoa oh oh Woah oh oh I love Sangria wine
Whoa oh oh Woah oh oh I love Sangria wine
All that’s left to do is drink the wine
Just lay back and watch the time go by
Old friends tell the truth when mixed with the wine
That's why I blend in all the lemons and limes
Yeah I love that Sangria wine
When I’m drink’n with old friends of mine
Yeah I love that Sangria wine
When I’m drink’n with old friends of mine
Whoa oh oh Woah oh oh I love Sangria wine
Whoa oh oh Woah oh oh I love Sangria wine
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This song is just what it says, Jerry Jeff singing about Sangria wine.
I got hooked on Sangria in Spain where every little restaurant and sidewalk café had their own recipe that they were each proud of. A good way to spend the day was to walk along trying a pitcher of Sangria at every place you came to.
When I moved to South Texas and first met my wife we went on a date to the beach for the day. I made a big container of Sangria. It must have worked, we had a great time and eventually got married.
Several people have done covers of this song, but I still like Jerry Jeff Walker’s original the best.
@philipshirk729
My friends come over Saturday night
Man its nice to make up some sangria wine
Its organic and it comes from the vine
Its also legal and it gets you so high
And I love that sangria wine
Love to drink it with old friends of mine
Yeah I love to get drunk with friends of mine
When we′re drinkin' that ole′ sangria wine
Whoooah I love sangria wine
Whoooah I love sangria wine
Start with some wine
Add some apples and brandy and some sugar some spice
Ole friends always show up on time
That's why you add (?) in burgundy wine
I love ole sangria wine
When I drink it with ole friends of mine
Yeah I love to drink with ole friends of mine
When we get drunk on that sangria wine
Whoooah I love sangria wine
Whoooah I love sangria wine
In Texas on a Saturday night
Everclear is added to the wine sometimes
Nachos, burritos, and tacos who knows
How it usually goes, it goes
Whoooah I love sangria wine
Whoooah I love sangria wine
Yeah I love that sangria wine
Just like I love ole friends of mine
They tell the truth when they're mixed with the wine
That′s why I love the lemons and lime
I love that sangria wine
Love to drink it with ole friends of mine
Yeah I love to drink with friends of mine
When we get drunk on that sangria wine
Whoooah I love sangria wine
Whoooah I love sangria wine
Whoooah I love sangria wine
Whoooah I love sangria wine
@eduardodelagarza4787
When I was stationed in the Philippines I played this song in a bar, we had jungle juice lol, the only difference is they added a ball of opium, Semper Fi and Erin go Braugh
@sharonfrizzell2504
One of my first concerts was Jerry Jeff with Leon Russell in the early 70s. Now they are playing and singing together, again, and maybe having a beer or six with John Prine.
@franklinmoore7224
I bought his #Scamp cassette at the StateFair in Beaumont from his souvenir table:
LongOldDustyRoad,
DownInTexas(Life Is Good), and Life On The Road, but #LetErGo is tops.
@klarson8161
You are blessed!!
@robertmarrero9458
Bought this album on vinyl in maybe 1974; still so much more "country" than most of the junk coming out of Nashville today.
@JM-pf2of
Hell ya man
@jamestaylor8000
Me too brother
@jimr4791
Reminiscing these old songs on the day he passed, RIP Jerry Jeff :(
@mountainwoodie9816
Thaats putting it mildly! God its great
@rancedodd
I had this on an 8 track at some point , He was the real deal .