aul Weston (born Paul Wetstein, March 12, 1912 – died September 20, 1996) was a US pianist, arranger, composer and conductor. Weston was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1933.
Weston became an arranger for Rudy Vallee's Fleischman Hour on radio. In 1936 he joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra as chief arranger, holding the position until 1940. He then became Dinah Shore's arranger/conductor and also worked freelance for the Bob Crosby Orchestra. His association with the Crosby unit took him to Hollywood and into film work, starting with Holiday Inn in 1941. Subsequent films as musical director include Holiday Inn (1942), Belle of the Yukon (1944) and Road To Utopia (1945). Weston arranged Ella Fitzgerald's album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook (1957), devoted to the music of Irving Berlin.
In 1942, songwriter Johnny Mercer, Glenn Wallichs and Buddy DeSylva formed Capitol Records and engaged Weston as musical director for the label. Weston also began working on radio with Mercer and Capitol songstress Jo Stafford. Stafford signed with Columbia Records in 1950 and Weston also joined Columbia. In 1952, Weston and Stafford married and had two children, Tim (born 1954) and Amy (born 1956).
Weston had a long career as a musical director for television including The Danny Kaye Show. He teamed up with his wife to produce a series of comedy albums based on Jo's ability to sing off-key deliberately while Paul murdered the piano accompaniment. They assumed the personas of "Jonathan and Darlene Edwards" for these musical travesties.
The couple retired from performing in the 1970s. Weston died on September 20, 1996, in Santa Monica, California. In 2006, Jo Stafford donated her husband's library and her own to the University of Arizona. She died in 2008.
Jambalaya
Jo Stafford/Paul Weston & His Orchestra Lyrics
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Jambalaya
Jambalaya and a crawfish, pie and filé gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
Me gotta go, pole the pirogue down the bayou
Oh my John, the sweetest one, me-o, my-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filé gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
Thibodaux, Fontaineaux, the place is buzzin'
Kinfolk come to see my John by the dozen
Dressed in style, go hog wild, me-o, my-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filé gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
Settle down far from town, get me a pirogue
Oh, I'll catch all the fish in the bayou
Swap my mon to buy my John what he need-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filé gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
Jambalaya, hey, John
Jambalaya, hey, John
Jambalaya
The song "Jambalaya" by Jo Stafford is a classic Cajun tune that celebrates the joy of life and happiness. The lyrics describe the singer's excitement about taking part in a bayou party with his friends and family. He lists the different kinds of Cajun dishes that they will be having, including crawfish pie, filé gumbo, and jambalaya. The singer also mentions that he will be playing guitar and drinking, which will make him feel happy and carefree. He uses the phrase "ma cher amio" to address someone dear to him, perhaps a romantic partner or a close friend. As the night progresses, the singer bids farewell to some of his friends and begins a journey down the bayou with John, who is probably his lover. He expresses his love for him and his desire to settle down with him far from the town and catch some fish in the bayou.
The lyrics of "Jambalaya" celebrate the culture of Cajun people, their food, music, and way of life. The repetitive chorus, "Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filé gumbo," emphasizes the importance of food in their culture. The singer's use of words like "cher" and "joie de vivre" adds an authentic Cajun flavor to the song. The line "Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou" reflects the carefree and spontaneous spirit of Cajun people, who live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Jambalaya and a crawfish, pie and filé gumbo
I'm excited to have some local Louisiana dishes for dinner tonight – Jambalaya, Crawfish Pie, and Filé Gumbo.
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
I get to see my dear friend tonight and I am really excited about it!
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
We will have music, drinks and plenty of laughter tonight!
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou
We are going to have a great time tonight!
Well, goodbye, Joe, me gotta go, me-o, my-o
It's time to say goodbye to Joe and get going.
Me gotta go, pole the pirogue down the bayou
I need to use a small boat to travel down the river.
Oh my John, the sweetest one, me-o, my-o
I have a really good friend named John.
Thibodaux, Fontaineaux, the place is buzzin'
Our destination is buzzing with activity, and people.
Kinfolk come to see my John by the dozen
John is very popular and has many family members coming to see him.
Dressed in style, go hog wild, me-o, my-o
Everyone is dressed in their best attire and ready to have a great time.
Settle down far from town, get me a pirogue
I plan to settle down and live away from the city.
Oh, I'll catch all the fish in the bayou
I'll have time to enjoy my leisure activities, like fishing in the nearby bayou.
Swap my mon to buy my John what he need-o
I would do anything for my friend John, including using my money to buy him things he needs.
Jambalaya, hey, John
Hey John, are you excited about the Jambalaya?
Jambalaya, hey, John
Hey John, are you excited about the Jambalaya?
Jambalaya
We are looking forward to having Jambalaya tonight!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind