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.
I'd Run Away
The Jayhawks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could take a little hint from you
And I'd run away
I'd run away with you baby
You said a couple things to me
You said a couple things that showed your place
But how many ways
Yeah how many ways
How many ways can I say it
So we had a little baby boy
But we knew it wouldn't last too long
Kind of what I had in mind
But what I had in mind was strong
I recall a side of you
I recall a different side of you
But I'd run away
I'd run away with you baby
I'd run away
I'd run away with you baby
So we had a little baby boy
But we knew it wouldn't' last too long
Kind of what I had in mind
But what I had in mind was strong
I could take a hint from you
I could take a little hint from you
And I'd run away
I'd run away with you baby
Yeah I'd run away
I'd run away with you baby
Yeah I'd run away
I'd run away
I'd run away with you baby
Yeah I'd run away
(I'd run away)
I'd run away with you baby
Yeah I'd run away
(I'd run away)
I'd run away with you baby
The Jayhawks's song I'd Run Away is a reflective and introspective piece about fleeing from the constraints and responsibilities of daily life. The song begins with the singer acknowledging an unnamed person's advice or suggestion ("I could take a hint from you") and expressing a desire to escape with them, away from the mundane and restrictive nature of their surroundings. The repetition of the phrase "I'd run away" emphasizes the singer's longing for a way out, and the addition of "with you baby" suggests they have somebody in mind who shares this desire.
However, this notion of running away is complicated by the lines "You said a couple things to me / You said a couple things that showed your place", which imply that the person the singer is addressing may have their own reservations about such an escape. The lines "But how many ways / How many ways can I say it" suggest that the singer has tried to express their feelings before, but the other person may not be receptive to the idea.
The second verse adds further layers to the narrative, introducing a baby boy who the singer and their partner know cannot be a permanent fixture in their escape plan. This may represent the real-world responsibilities they feel they cannot shirk, despite their desires. The final repetition of "I'd run away" reinforces the singer's wish for freedom, but the ambiguity of whether they do or do not actually escape leaves the song open to interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
I could take a hint from you
I'm willing to listen to your subtle indications or suggestions
And I'd run away
I want to escape my current situation
I'd run away with you baby
You offer a way out, and I want to take it with you
You said a couple things to me
You expressed some opinions or ideas
But how many ways
I wonder how many different times I'll hear this from you
Can I say it
Can I express myself in a different way
So we had a little baby boy
We had a child together
But we knew it wouldn't last too long
We knew our relationship wasn't meant to be
But what I had in mind was strong
Even though I knew it wouldn't work, I had strong feelings for you
I recall a side of you
I remember seeing a different side of you
But I'd run away
My desire to leave my current situation is stronger than my memories of you
I'd run away with you baby
If you want to leave too, I'd be happy to go with you
Yeah I'd run away
My urge to escape is still strong
(I'd run away)
I'd do anything to get away
I'd run away with you baby
If you're the one who can help me escape, I'm ready to go
Yeah I'd run away
I'm desperate for a way out
(I'd run away)
I'll do whatever it takes to leave this behind
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GARY LOURIS, GARY MICHAEL LOURIS, MARK OLSON, MARK JOHN OLSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
super wiseman
One of the most underrated American bands of the last 25 years. They really don’t write bad music - all memorable songs.
Ashley Monday
I agree, but the thing is they never wanted to be some huge popular band which is commendable, but sad for people like us that know they deserve more.
Alex
@Ashley Monday not sure if you're American or not...but I am...and I always thought of them as our Beatles.
Ashley Monday
@Alex I will always see CCR as our Beatles, but honestly knowing the Jayhawks they might agree with that. I do think they were the Beatles of Alt Country.
Bill Hunt
This band has that certain something. It's hard to explain. Great writing, unusual but spot-on harmonies, great guitar sound. Beatle-ish in a modern American way.
Dex Vox
Two voices dipped in honey . Loved that band
E.V. Hodge
More like Crowded House than the Beatles. Not that I care. These people are fine.
bodyhand
Just the greatest of the greats. Never was there a better lineup and time for their songs than this. Their joy together here even makes it moreso.
Jason444
the most under appreciated and underrated band of the 90's. absolutely one of my top "go to " bands when i need to lose myself in the music.
glennmallery
What a great band...unbelievable harmonies