Renee developed a great love for music at an early age and honed her voice by singing
along with the radio. Before long she was entering talent contests and appearing in
local musical productions. Her aspirations for stardom were documented on video and
became the subject of two E! television documentaries,
"The Making of a Child Star" and "The Journey Continues".
In 1995, Renee appeared in her first commercial, the award winning ad for Levi Jeans.
In 1998 she did a Segento Cheese commercial.
She made her first foray in TV in 1995 in "Streets Of Laredo".
In 1998, Renee appeared in the episode "Doodlebug" in "Touch By An Angel".
In 1999, she was seen in two shows, "Chicken Soup For The Soul" and "Providence".
In 1999, Renee’s first major motion picture roles were "The Insider",
starring Al Pacino and Russell Crowe, and "End Of Days" with
Arnold Schwarzenegger. And, in 2000, she appeared in "Space Cowboys".
In 2002, she had her first major role in the CBS comedy "Still Standing", a four year run.
But, by 2002, Renee’s second career, her singing career, began to take shape.
After she saw the movie "Pleasantville", she fell in love with Etta James’s "At Last",
which began a love affair with the music of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald,
Anita O’Day and the Great American Songbook.
Then Renee was able to perform with Eddie Reed’s Swing Band playing LA area clubs.
In September 2002, she released "By Request" to commemorate her club performances.
"At Last" being one of the tracks.
Renee gained the attention of Grammy Award winning producer David Foster
and subsequently signed a contract with the Warner Records label.
In 2003, 13 year old Renee performed at the Playboy Jazz Festival singing
"At Last" to an amazed jazz audience, who gave Renee a standing ovation.
Bill Cosby, whose jazz band backed Renee quipped that “she’s only 13
and knows only one song”.
Finally, in May 2004, all elements of Renee’s career came together.
On the "Still Standing" final episode, of the second season, she performed "Summertime",
in a dream sequence, the first track on her self-titled CD "Renee Olstead",
produced by David Foster, released that month.
The release started Renee on a whirlwind promotional tour starting with
the "Today Show" and "Jazz At Lincoln Center Spring Gala" in NYC.
Montreux Jazz Festival, as part of a European tour, David Letterman and
finally Oprah ended a busy 2004. Renee’s CD was #5 on the
Billboard Jazz Chart, for 2004, after many rave reviews.
In 2004, Renee recorded two songs for movie soundtracks.
She recorded "Merry Christmas In Love" for the Italian movie "Christmas In Love"
and "A Love That Will Last", a track on her CD, was used in "Princess Diary 2".
Also, in the summer of 2004, Renee’s next film "13 Going On 30" was released.
During and after the end of the "Still Standing" run, in the Spring of 2006,
Renee continued to perform her music around the world.
She performed in numerous charity events in the US.
Renee again toured Europe, this time with B.B. King, performed in Live 8,
in Berlin, and with Chris Botti and at the "Unite The Stars" charity event,
in South Africa.
Performance highlights include the "28th Gift Of Life Celebration" hosted
by George Lopez, with Renee performing "Midnight Man" with David Foster,
in 2007. The Java Jazz Festival, in 2008, "My Baby Just Cares For Me",
where Renee received the International Jazz Talent Award, and the "Hit Man:
David Foster And Friends" tribute to David Foster with Renee performing Through The Fire, in 2008.
In 2008, she recorded her third movie soundtrack with "Ain’t we Got Fun"
for the movie "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl".
TV came back in the picture, in 2008, as Renee was cast in the series
"The Secret Life Of The American Teenager" as Madison.
In the final episode, of the second season, again her two careers came together,
as Madison sang "Fly Me To The Moon" and
"Someone To Watch Over Me" at a wedding reception.
In 2009, Renee’s long awaited CD "Skylark", again produced by David Foster,
was released, and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Jazz Chart.
Discography:
2000: Stone Country
2000: Unleashed
2002: By Request
2004: Renee Olstead
2009: Skylark
Official Web Site: www.ReneeOlstead.com
Official Fan Site: www.ReneeOlstead.info
Hit The Road Jack
Renee Olstead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back no more
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road, Jack
(What you say?)
Oh baby, oh baby, don't you treat me so mean
You're the meanest old man that I ever seen
I guess if you say so
I have to pack my things and go, that's right
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back no more
(Hit the road!)
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back no more, no, no, what you say?
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back no more, no more
And don't you come back no more, no, no more
Now better listen baby, don't you treat me this way
Yeah, I'll be back on my feet someday
Don't care if you do 'cause it's understood
You ain't got no money, you just ain't no good
Well, I guess if you say so
I have to pack my things and then I'll have to go
I'll have to go, oh!
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back no more
(Don't you come back, hey, what you say?)
Hit the road, Jack
Don't you come back no more, no, no, no more
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back no more, whoa whoa
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back no more, no, no, no more
Don't you come back no more, no, no, no, no more
(Don't you come back)
You're on your own, Jack
And don't you come back no more, no more, no more
(You're on your own, Jack)
And don't you come back no, no more
No, no, no, no, no more, no more
(You're on your own, Jack)
Don't you be coming back
Don't you come back no more, no more, no more
(You're on your own, Jack)
Hit the road, Jack
(You're on your own, Jack)
Don't you be coming back
Renee Olstead's version of the song Hit the Road Jack is a cover of the original Ray Charles song. The song expresses the frustration of a woman who has had enough of her partner's abuse and is finally standing up for herself. The best way to deal with this hurtful behavior is for him to "hit the road" and don't come back. The repetition of "no more" reinforces the woman's newfound courage.
The chorus "Hit the road, Jack and don't you come back no more" is a clear indication that the woman has had enough of her partner's abuse and is finally taking a stand. It shows that she is confident about her decision and is ready to move on from the toxic relationship. Furthermore, the phrase "no more" also denotes that she is done with his hurtful behavior and is ready for him to leave.
The lyrics also contain a second verse where the woman tells her partner that she will be back on her feet someday, despite his doubts in her. She also calls out that he has no money and thus isn't any good for her. Overall, these lyrics convey a sense of empowerment and courage for anyone who is dealing with a toxic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Hit the road, Jack
Leave, Jack
And don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Do not return, Jack
Oh baby, oh baby, don't you treat me so mean
Stop mistreating me
You're the meanest old man that I ever seen
You are the cruelest man I have ever met
I guess if you say so
Fine, if that is what you want
I have to pack my things and go, that's right
I will leave with my belongings
Hit the road!
Leave!
Now better listen baby, don't you treat me this way
Listen to me, do not mistreat me anymore
Yeah, I'll be back on my feet someday
I will recover from this
Don't care if you do 'cause it's understood
I do not care if you agree
You ain't got no money, you just ain't no good
You are not valuable because you have no money
I'll have to go, oh!
I must leave
Don't you come back
Do not return
You're on your own, Jack
You are responsible for yourself
Hit the road, Jack
Leave, Jack
Don't you be coming back
Do not return
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, THE RAY CHARLES FOUNDATION DBA TANGERINE MUSIC, Peermusic Publishing, Kassner Associated Publishers Ltd, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Percy Mayfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind