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.
Broken Harpoon
The Jayhawks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lead the choir in my song
As i climb the walls
Walk the halls to be strong
Once, it was around my schoolboy days
New lines were drawn and rules were made
Smell the blood on the breeze
I weathered the storm
For a glimpse of the trees
When, when it seemed no matter what you gave
I took my secret to my grave
Broken harpoon ...
I could drown
In the sound of my dreams
Shiver and moan
Feel the need to be free
Once, it was around my schoolboy days
New lines were drawn and rules were made
Broken harpoon ...
The lyrics of The Jayhawks' song Broken Harpoon reflect the struggles of a person who has faced setbacks in life but has managed to rise above them. In the first verse, the singer talks about his determination to overcome obstacles as he builds a fire and leads a choir in his song. He also mentions climbing walls and walking halls to become stronger.
The second verse is a reflection on the singer's past, specifically his schoolboy days when new lines were drawn and rules were made. He wears the scars of his past and can smell the blood on the breeze, but he has weathered the storm and still longs for a glimpse of the trees. Finally, in the chorus, the singer acknowledges the brokenness in his life and the desire he has to break free and pursue his dreams.
Overall, the lyrics of Broken Harpoon convey a sense of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The singer has faced challenges in the past, but he has not given up hope and remains committed to his aspirations.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna build a fire
I am determined to ignite a flame and keep it burning
Lead the choir in my song
I will be in charge and take the lead in singing my own melody
As I climb the walls
I face internal struggles as I attempt to overcome obstacles
Walk the halls to be strong
I roam the path of life to find inner strength
Once, it was around my schoolboy days
This happened in my teenage years, when things were just beginning to take shape
New lines were drawn and rules were made
I encountered change and new restrictions that I had to adjust to
I wear the scars
I bear the marks of past trauma
Smell the blood on the breeze
I am reminded of the violence and danger that surround me
I weathered the storm
I persevered through a tumultuous period of my life
For a glimpse of the trees
I endured hardships in order to gain a moment of brief respite
When, when it seemed no matter what you gave
Despite my best efforts, it seemed like progress was impossible
I took my secret to my grave
I kept my struggles and pain to myself until the very end
Broken harpoon ...
I am damaged and broken, like a harpoon that can no longer function as intended
I could drown
The weight of my troubles feels suffocating and consuming
In the sound of my dreams
I find solace and hope in the goals and aspirations that drive me forward
Shiver and moan
I am racked with anxiety and pain
Feel the need to be free
I long for liberation and freedom from emotional burdens
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GARY LOURIS, GARY MICHAEL LOURIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind