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.
Reason To Believe
The Jayhawks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I find a way to believe it's all true
One that your lash try face while I cry
Still I look to find a reason to believe
Chorus:
Someone like you
Makes it hard to live without somebody else
Makes it's easy to give
Never thinking about myself
If you give me time to change my mind
I find a way just to leave the best behind
One that your lash try face while I cry
Still I look to find a reason to believe
(chorus) * 3
The Jayhawks's song Reason To Believe is a ballad about the struggle of finding hope and believing in something or someone worthwhile. The lyrics express a deep need for companionship and support, as the singer describes how someone like their lover makes it hard to live without someone to depend on. They find solace in their lover's presence, as their love provides comfort and ease in their life, making it easy to give and never think about themselves. The singer wants their lover to give them time to change their mind and leave the past behind, but even amidst their trying times, they still search for a reason to believe in hope and love.
The song's powerful message of longing for love and support has resonated with many listeners since its release in 1995. It has been covered by numerous artists, including Rod Stewart, who made it into a hit in the 1970s. The Jayhawks's version also appeared in the popular TV show The O.C., and it remains a fan favorite to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
If I listen long enough to you
By paying close attention to your words, I may eventually come to believe them.
I find a way to believe it's all true
After listening intently to you, I can convince myself that what you're saying is accurate.
One that your lash try face while I cry
Despite the pain and hurt that may be present in our relationship, I still strive to find a reason to believe in us.
Still I look to find a reason to believe
In spite of any doubts or hardships, I continue to search for a justification to trust and have faith in our relationship.
Someone like you
Makes it hard to live without somebody else
Having someone like you in my life makes it challenging to survive and function independently without the help or support of another person.
Someone like you
Makes it's easy to give
Never thinking about myself
Because of your presence, it becomes easy for me to give and do things for you without prioritizing my own wants or needs.
If you give me time to change my mind
If you afford me enough time, I may be able to reconsider my thoughts and opinions about something.
I find a way just to leave the best behind
Despite having experienced better times or situations, I am willing to move on from them in order to start fresh.
Contributed by Chase T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.