Led by the gifted songwriting, impeccable playing, and honeyed harmonies of vocalists/guitarists Gary Louris and Mark Olson, the Jayhawks' shimmering blend of country, folk, and bar band rock made them one of the most widely acclaimed artists to emerge from the alternative country scene. The group sprung up in 1985 out of the fertile Minneapolis, Minnesota, musical community, where Olson had been playing standup bass in a rockabilly band called Stagger Lee until his desire to write and perform his own country-folk material prompted him to begin a solo career. He enlisted Marc Perlman, the guitarist for a local band called the Neglecters, whom Olson then convinced to take up the bass; after the addition of drummer Norm Rogers, the group first played in front of a crowd of less than a dozen people. One of those patrons, however, was Gary Louris, a veteran of the local bands Safety Last and Schnauzer; after the show, he and Olson began talking, and by the end of the evening Louris, a guitarist famed locally for his innovative, pedal steel-like sound, had become a member of the group, eventually named the Jayhawks.
Drawing on influences like Gram Parsons, the Louvin Brothers, Tim Hardin, and Nashville Skyline-era Bob Dylan, the Jayhawks quickly became a local favorite, honing their sound in Twin Cities clubs before releasing their eponymous debut in 1986. Issued in a pressing of just a few thousand copies, the album was well received by those who heard it; a major recording deal did not follow, however, so the band continued to polish their craft live, with more and more of their songs bearing writing credits belonging to both Olson and Louris. In October 1988, after a lineup change which saw the departure of Rogers (who joined Cows) followed by the addition of drummer Thad Spencer, Louris was nearly killed in an auto accident, and the Jayhawks went on hiatus. At much the same time, however, executives at the Minneapolis independent label Twin/Tone decided to issue the demos the group had been stockpiling over the past few years, and after some overdubbing and remixing, Blue Earth appeared in 1989. Richer in sound and more complex in its themes and concerns, the record's release brought the group considerable attention, and also brought Louris back into the fold. After another drummer switch (Spencer for Ken Callahan), the band hit the road for a national tour.
The Jayhawks were signed to major label American Records after producer George Drakoulias heard The Blue Earth playing in the background during a phone call to Twin/Tone's offices. With Drakoulias in the producer's seat, the band recorded its breakthrough album, Hollywood Town Hall, in 1991; a mainstay of critics' annual "best of" lists, the album generated the alternative radio hits "Waiting for the Sun," "Take Me With You (When You Go)," and "Settled Down Like Rain." After a tour which saw the permanent addition of Minneapolis pianist Karen Grotberg, the individual bandmembers guested on albums from Counting Crows, Soul Asylum, Maria McKee, Joe Henry, and others. Before recording the fourth Jayhawks album, Callahan departed, and was replaced by session drummer Don Heffington. The resulting record, 1995's Tomorrow the Green Grass, is a beautiful collection of songs led off by the elegiac single "Blue," the recipient of significant airplay. A tour followed, but after some months on the road, Olson announced he was quitting the band. In 1997, the Jayhawks — now consisting of Louris, Perlman, Grotberg, and drummer Tim O'Reagan — released the album Sound of Lies. Grotberg left the band in early 2000, and was replaced by ex-DAG keyboardist Jen Gunderman for the band's sixth album, Smile. A move to a new label (Lost Highway) in 2002 brought about more changes in the band's ever evolving lineup, leaving Louris, Perlman, and O' Reagan (assisted by newcomer Stephen McCarthy on guitar) to craft 2003's rootsier Rainy Day Music.
After a hiatus from 2005-9, the band reunited and, in 2011, recorded a new album. The lineup consists of Mark Olson, Gary Louris, Marc Perlman, Karen Grotberg, and Tim O'Reagan. The album, Mockingbird Time, was released on 20 September 2011. In September 2015, the same line-up, minus Mark Olson, began recording a new album 'Paging Mr Proust', produced by Peter Buck and Tucker Martine for release on the band's own Sham label in April 2016.
The Jayhawks featured on two albums by English rock musician Ray Davies, best known as lead singer-songwriter for The Kinks: Americana, released in April 2017, and Our Country: Americana Act II which appeared in June 2018.
The following month, the 'Paging Mr Proust' line-up was augmented by John Jackson (mandolin, violin, acoustic guitar) for the album Back Roads and Abandoned Motels. Recorded in two sessions in 2017, it comprises nine songs co-written by Gary Louris with other artists, alongside two of his recent compositions.
Norm Rogers (August 1, 1956 - February 19, 2018) original drummer and founding member, died in 2018.
http://www.jayhawksofficial.com
There is another band with the same name:
2. The Jayhawks (Jay Hawks, Jay-Hawks) were an American doo-wop group from Los Angeles, California that had a hit in 1956 with "Stranded in the Jungle". Their track "The Creature (From Outer Space)" can be found on various Halloween themed rock & roll compilations. During this time they also recorded as The Classics, After a few line-up changes they renamed themselves The Vibrations in 1960, but also had a hit with "Peanut Butter" under the name The Marathons.
All The Right Reasons
The Jayhawks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of how it's gonna be the day that I am free
Once I settled like the dust upon the table
but then you came along
You helped me write this song
I don't know what day it is, I can't recall the seasons
And I don't remember how we got this far
In my sky you'll always be my morning star
Like a tired bird flying high across the ocean
I was outside looking in, you made me live again
From the mountains to the prairies little babies
Figures fill their heads, visions bathed in red
I don't know what day it is, I can't recall the seasons
And I don't remember how we got this far
All I know is I'm loving you for all the right reasons
In my sky you'll always be my morning star
From the train in Manchester, England
Lightning fills the sky as I watched you wave goodbye
From the mountains to the prairies little babies
Figures fill their heads, visions bathed in red
I don't know what day it is, I can't recall the seasons
And I don't remember how we got this far
All I know is I'm loving you for all the right reasons
In my sky you'll always will be my morning star
The Jayhawks's "All The Right Reasons" is a slow, melancholic song that explores the theme of love and the power of it to change someone's life. The opening lines of the song, "As I lay upon my bed, I began dreaming Of how it's gonna be the day that I am free," suggests that the singer is trapped or struggling with something in their life. However, the song gradually evolves into an expression of gratitude for the person who has helped the singer find freedom and happiness. The lyrics describe how the singer was lost and emotionally exhausted before meeting this person, but now they feel reborn and able to see life in a more vibrant and optimistic way.
The song also has a strong patriotic element as seen in the line, "From the mountains to the prairies little babies/Figures fill their heads, visions bathed in red," which references the American flag. This could also suggest that the person who the singer is addressing is American, or that the relationship between the two is deeply associated with the country's ideals and values.
Line by Line Meaning
As I lay upon my bed, I began dreaming
I was lying down and started to dream about my future
Of how it's gonna be the day that I am free
The day I break free from my troubles and worries
Once I settled like the dust upon the table
I became stagnant and unchanging
but then you came along
You came into my life
You helped me write this song
You inspired me to create something meaningful
I don't know what day it is, I can't recall the seasons
I've lost track of time and the passing of years
And I don't remember how we got this far
I can't pinpoint the exact moment when we started our journey together
All I know is I'm loving you for all the right reasons
I care for you deeply and my love for you is genuine
In my sky you'll always be my morning star
You are like a guiding light in my life
Like a tired bird flying high across the ocean
I felt exhausted and lost before you came into my life
I was outside looking in, you made me live again
You helped me see the world in a different way and gave me a new lease on life
From the mountains to the prairies little babies
Children everywhere are born with hopes and dreams
Figures fill their heads, visions bathed in red
Their imaginations run wild with ambition and creativity
From the train in Manchester, England
From a specific moment and place in time
Lightning fills the sky as I watched you wave goodbye
A dramatic and emotional moment
In my sky you'll always will be my morning star
You will always hold a special place in my heart and life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JovenAdso
As I lay upon my bed, I begin dreaming
Of how it's gonna be, the day that I am free
Once I settle like the dust upon the table
But then you came along
You helped me write this song
I don't know what day it is
I can't recall the seasons
I don't remember how we got this far
All I know is I'm loving you for all the right reasons
In my sky you'll always be my morning star
Like a tired bird flying high across the ocean
I was outside looking in
You made me live again
From the mountains to the prairies, little babies
Figures fill their heads
Visions bathed in red
I don't know what day it is
I can't recall the seasons
I don't remember how we got this far
All I know is I'm loving you for all the right reasons
In my sky you'll always be my morning star
From the train in Manchester, England
Lightning fills the sky
As I watched you wave goodbye
From the mountains to the prairie, little babies
Figures fill their heads
Visions bathed in red
I don't know what day it is
I can't recall the seasons
I don't remember how we got this far
All I know is I'm loving you for all the right reasons
In my sky you'll always be my morning star
@stephenwevans
Man, what a great song. Just seems to do everything right and really hits the heart.
@valentynabelofsky9374
This song made my life, literally! It is just so deeply honest and beautiful, I will never stop loving this song.
@skydog3093
+OnlyA Northernsong Yup, well said
@valentynabelofsky9374
Thanks!
@planr5572
one of the most beautiful love songs ever.
@namyur
I´m agree.
@benhannum5075
A really moving song, quite beautiful and deep at the same time. Always makes me feel better...
@keur2454
Thank you Brandon
@alexnelson7351
This song became so meaning after my dear sisters death. So sweet thanks!
@SangerSongs
This was the song I walked down the aisle to on my wedding day 7 years ago.