The Jayhawks are an American alt-country and rock band that began in the mi… Read Full Bio ↴The Jayhawks are an American alt-country and rock band that began in the mid-1980s. On hiatus from 2005 to 2009, the band reunited and, in September 2011, released a new album, "Mockingbird Time".

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.

Wichita
The Jayhawks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come to Wichita
Won't be there in 40 days
This, an evil land
Brings a devil's cloud

Take a message
To abide in what you own
And there'll be no more

No more people singing

(Chorus)
La la la
In one morning you will be mine
Where the fields are smiling
No more people singing la la la
In one morning you will be mine
Where the fields are smiling
Where the fields are smiling

There by crook and fire
And the squatters rights
Don't your cheek get sore
And you mouth get dry
Sevens on your sleeve
Haven't counted days
Then he slouches home
To you loved ones gate

(Chorus)

With my pockets torn
By a whirlwind
Man takes what it needs
Turns you inside out

Come to Wichita
Won't be there in 40 days
This, an evil land
Brings a devil's cloud

Take a message
To abide in what you own
And there'll be no more
No more people singing

(Chorus)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Jayhawks' song Wichita are poetic and cryptic in nature, leaving much room for interpretation. The song seems to speak of a land, Wichita, that is cursed and filled with evil, represented by the devil's cloud. The singer warns the listener not to come to Wichita, as they will not be there within 40 days. However, there is still hope, as the lyrics speak of a land where the fields are smiling, free from the people singing la la la. The message is clear, to abide in what you own and escape the devil's cloud of Wichita.

The song speaks to feelings of despair and frustration, perhaps referencing the struggles of early pioneers in America. The talk of squatters' rights and counting days suggest the difficulty of building a home and a life on a new frontier. The song's chorus speaks of hope, however, suggesting that there is a better life waiting for those who can escape the pull of the cursed land of Wichita.

Line by Line Meaning

Come to Wichita
The singer is inviting the listener to visit Wichita.

Won't be there in 40 days
The singer will not be in Wichita 40 days from now.

This, an evil land
Wichita is portrayed as a place with a sinister and unpleasant quality.

Brings a devil's cloud
Wichita is compared to a demonic presence hovering over the area, bringing negativity and darkness.

Take a message
The singer is requesting the listener to deliver a message for him.

To abide in what you own
The message is about staying true to yourself and appreciating what you have.

And there'll be no more
By following this advice, there will be no more problems.

No more people singing
No more people complaining or expressing discontent.

La la la
A non-specific vocalization, used as a form of singing.

In one morning you will be mine
The singer is promising to possess something or someone by morning.

Where the fields are smiling
The place where he will possess something or someone is depicted as a location where everything is happy and idyllic.

There by crook and fire
The singer is implying that he will do whatever is necessary to achieve his goals.

And the squatters rights
He may be referencing a legal concept known as squatter's rights, which can allow someone to claim property by occupying it for a certain period without objection.

Don't your cheek get sore
The singer is asking if someone feels tired of smiling incessantly to conceal negative emotions.

And you mouth get dry
The singer is asking if someone is becoming exhausted of speaking or singing too much without rest.

Sevens on your sleeve
The singer is referencing an old tradition of wearing one's heart on one's sleeve and showcasing vulnerability.

Haven't counted days
The singer hasn't been keeping track of time due to being preoccupied with other things.

Then he slouches home
After a long day, the singer is going home.

To you loved ones gate
He is going to the gate of his loved ones' home.

With my pockets torn
The singer's pockets are ripped, possibly implying poverty or struggle.

By a whirlwind
The pockets were torn by a sudden gust of wind or a metaphorical whirlwind.

Man takes what it needs
The singer is describing the human tendency to take what one wants, regardless of consequences.

Turns you inside out
The things that we take or acquire can have a profound effect on our inner selves.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GARY LOURIS, GARY MICHAEL LOURIS, MARC R. PERLMAN, MARK OLSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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