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.
Homecoming
The Jayhawks Lyrics
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THE AIR IS GETTING THICKER
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BREATHE
ALL THE WRITING'S ON THE WALL
YET WE REFUSE TO READ IT
HEADS BURIED IN THE SAND
TO PLACES UNCHARTED
IT'S OUR LITTLE WORLD
IT'S TIME TO GET STARTED
SHORT-SIGHTED MEN
WITH EYES ON THEIR POCKETS
THE NEXT GENERATION IS WATCHING THE CLOCK WIND DOWN, DOWN DOWN
(ALL COMING DOWN)
AS THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES HUM
STOCKHOLDERS COUNT THEIR PROFITS
WHILE BLOCKING OUT THE SUN
ALL THE OCEANS BROWN WITH FOAM
THE POLAR ICE IS MELTING
WATCH FORESTS AS THEY FALL
THERE'S NO ONE ELSE
COMING TO SAVE US
WHY ARE THE CHILDREN
ALWAYS THE BRAVEST
STEALING THEIR DREAMS
ONE DAY AT A TIME
A FUTURE BETRAYAL
DENYING THE SCIENCE
(ALL COMING DOWN)
EVERY STREET IS CHOKED WITH CARS
POOR MOTHER EARTH IS RAVAGED
AND DISAPPEARING STARS
LEFT TO OURSELVES
AND OUR OWN DEVICES
WHO CAN WE TRUST
TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES
MAINTAIN STATUS QUO
THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE
WE LEAVE BEHIND A DEAD DYING PLANET
(ALL COMING DOWN)
The opening stanza of "Homecoming" by The Jayhawks sets a tone of suffocation and claustrophobia, with the singer feeling the room closing in, the air thickening, and struggling to breathe. This sense of physical and emotional unease can be interpreted as a metaphor for the overwhelming challenges and crises facing the world today, making it difficult for individuals to navigate and process the looming threats.
As the lyrics progress, the theme of denial and ignorance emerges as the singer mentions the writing on the wall that is being overlooked and heads being buried in the sand. This refusal to acknowledge the warning signs and confront the harsh reality represents a collective blindness to the urgent issues at hand, allowing destructive forces to continue unchecked and unchallenged.
The imagery of pollution, environmental degradation, and the exploitation of natural resources is vividly painted in the subsequent verses. Lines about slaughterhouses humming, oceans turning brown with foam, polar ice melting, and forests falling highlight the devastating impact of human actions on the planet. The song conveys a sense of urgency and impending doom, as the effects of environmental destruction become increasingly irreversible.
The final stanza shifts focus to societal systems and institutions, critiquing the lack of accountability and leadership in addressing these pressing issues. The reference to choked streets with cars, a ravaged Earth, disappearing stars, and the betrayal of future generations by current ones paints a bleak picture of a world in crisis. The mention of leaving behind a dead, dying planet underscores the urgency for meaningful action and change before it is too late. Overall, "Homecoming" by The Jayhawks serves as a poignant commentary on the consequences of human negligence and shortsightedness, urging listeners to confront the harsh realities of our time and work towards a more sustainable and responsible future.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: GARY LOURIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind