Jambalaya
Roy Clark; Joe Pass Lyrics
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Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou.
My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh my oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Thibodaux, Fontaineaux, the place is buzzin'
Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Dress in style and go hog wild, me oh my oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet 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
And I'll catch all the fish in the bayou
Swap my mon to buy Yvonne what she need-o
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet 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.
The first verse of "Jambalaya" tells the story of someone, addressed as "Joe," who must leave and travel down the bayou by pole. He is accompanied by Yvonne, whom he calls "the sweetest one." The singer promises that they will have a great time as they travel together on the bayou.
In the chorus, the singer describes the delicious, traditional Cajun foods they will enjoy that evening--Jambalaya, crawfish pie, and fillet gumbo. He is excited to see his beloved "ma cher amio," or "my dear friend" in French. The singer plans to play music and enjoy himself, promising to "pick guitar" and "fill fruit jar and be gay-o."
The second verse reveals that the couple is headed to Thibodaux, Fontaineaux, where Yvonne's kinfolk are waiting for them. The town is buzzing with excitement, and everyone is dressed up and having a good time. The singer promises that they will have a wild time together.
The final verse finds the singer planning to settle down with Yvonne and catch fish in the bayou. He is happy to spend his money on her and promises to continue having fun and enjoying life.
Line by Line Meaning
Good-bye, Joe, me gotta go, me oh my oh
Farewell, Joe, I must depart, oh my goodness!
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou.
I need to move my boat through the river.
My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh my oh
My beloved Yvonne, the most delightful woman.
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.
We will have a wonderful time on the river.
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
I will enjoy a Cajun feast of rice, seafood pie and soup.
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Because tonight I will be reunited with my darling.
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
I will play my guitar, fill my glass with drinks and have a great time.
Thibodaux, Fontaineaux, the place is buzzin'
The towns of Thibodaux and Fontaineaux are lively and bustling.
Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Yvonne's relatives are visiting her in large numbers.
Dress in style and go hog wild, me oh my oh
Get dressed up and have a wild time, oh my goodness!
Settle down far from town, get me a pirogue
I will take my boat far away from the town to relax.
And I'll catch all the fish in the bayou
I will fish for all the fish in the river.
Swap my mon to buy Yvonne what she need-o
I will exchange my money to buy Yvonne what she needs.
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.
Once again, we will have a wonderful time on the river.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@texydanl5239
When you're lucky enough to hear something this good for free, you're lucky, ain't we?
@WhiteCranK
I'm 7 yrs late but i have to agree with you! Totally!
@Jointlock
Joe Pass is a jazz icon and legend, and greatly missed. But Roy Clarke is an Americn treasure. He is one of the most under rated players in our country's history. And he is still going strong! Throw in his banjo, voice, acting, singing and comedy and you have some combo. All we get now is Spears, Bieber and their auto tuned clap trap.
@thestoryplease
Joe comping all over the frets and around Roy's notes ...beautiful magic Gonna listen to more - soon as I get my breath Thank you!
@rlb3255
I've seen Roy Clark play live several times. When he dropped the sort of "Hee Haw cornball" routine and just started playing I found he was one of the best players I've seen, and I've seen most of the greats.
@Modes9
I give Roy a lot of credit for taking a foray into Joe's world. There's something magical about the feel and sound of late swing/ early bebop.
@RedDirtRules
In my opinion this session was some of Roy's best work. Joe was pushing him to open up, and he did. Great stuff.
@LessLethal
He's pretty underrated as a picker, probably because most people (who are old enough) tend to think of him as the "Hee Haw Guy" but really, he's a superb player. Check out his guest appearance on the "Odd Couple" when he plays Malaguena, which has become somewhat of a signature piece for him. It's impressive.
@taildragger53
Joe Pass is beyond words. A real musician. He was so seriously ill here and yet you'd never know it. I was luck to've met him in London in 1977. What a gentleman he was.
@fatherkarl9291
Define a real musician