As teenagers, the band members, like most rock 'n' roll groups, were intent on becoming pop stars. Instead of creating a brand-new sound or striving for something different, their philosophy was to take popular styles of rock 'n' roll and push them to the edge. It was at that that the band excelled. The passion and soul they pumped into their music on is still in the grooves of each record. And although they set out to be nothing more than a "typical" rock group, they made some of the most atypical records of the 1960s!
Forming in late 1965, the Shadows of Knight were all friends and aquaintances, except for lead singer Jim Sohns, whom they stole from a rival group. The group's early sounds were highly influenced by black music and by white British interpretations of black music. Venturing into hard-edged R&B, the group made two LP' for Dunwich Records within its first year (both records now available again, thanks to Sundazed Records). Those albums are essential listening for anyone who loves the gritty early sounds of groups like the Rolling Stones and the Pretty Things. Of course, it's their version of Them's "Gloria" that shot the Shadows to the top of the American pop charts. Their rise to fame was fast, and the pressures were very hard for the group to handle. By 1967, the group, disillusioned by its mismanagement, began to fall apart. Guitarist Jerry McGeorge went on to form the understated H.P. Lovecraft. Both the bassist Joe Kelly and the drummer Tim Schiffour held out for more straight-ahead blues in the Joe Kelly Blues Band. Jim Sohns held on.
By late 1968, Sohns was the only surviving member, legally securing the Shadows of Knight name for himself. The "group" was then contracted with by bubblegum producers Kasenetz and Katz to record under that name for K&K's Teem Records label. Grabbing at any straw handed to him, Sohns quickly moved to New York, assembled a group of musicians, and went on to record some of the best records of the bubblegum genre.
A master at interpreting popular sounds, Sohns was able to take teen appeal and mix it with his gritty soulful voice for an unbelievable version of "Shake." Jim (under various psuedonyms) is also quite obviously the vocalist on many other soulful bubblegum songs pressed for K&K labels. Firmly grounded in the bubblegum genre and sensing another change in popular music, Jim began to have an interest in harder rock 'n' roll sounds. His last great single is perhaps the most perfect melding of rock and bubblegum sounds: "Run, Run Billy Porter"/ "My Fire Department Needs A Fireman."
Although Sohns kept the Shadows of Knight name alive, he lost his chart-topping drive in 1969 and began to rehash his earlier Chicago career, so his subsequent records are neither timely nor so impassioned.
On July 29th 2022, Jim Sohns passed away from complications due to a stroke. He was 75 years old.
Willie Jean
The Shadows of Knight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The folks back home
And twelve miles of road
That I used to roam
Sometimes I think about
My crazy Willie Jean
She ever get as far as New Orleans
On a grassy river bank
And drink hot water
From a railroad filling tank
Sometimes I think about
My crazy Willie Jean
Will she ever get as far as New Orleans
Daddy told me son
I see ya your gonna come to harm
I'm gonna see you on that Knoxville County Farm
Sometimes I think about
That crazy Willie Jean
She ever get as far as New Orleans
Some times I lie awake
And I cry, think about Willie Jean
She ever get as far as New Orleans
Crazy Willie Jean
Far as New Orleans
The Shadows of Knight's song Willie Jean is a nostalgic and wistful ballad that tells the story of a man who has left his home and lost touch with his past. He reflects on his childhood days spent roaming the twelve-mile road and the summer spent with his wild and free-spirited friend, Willie Jean, on the grassy riverbank drinking hot water from a railroad filling tank. He wonders whether she ever made it as far as New Orleans, perhaps seeking adventure and freedom like he did.
The man's father warned him that he would come to harm and end up in the Knoxville County Farm, but he still took off, leaving behind everything familiar. Now, he lies awake at night, crying and thinking about Willie Jean, and whether she too has found her own path in life. The song is a sad reminder of the sacrifices and risks we take when we follow our dreams and leave the safety of our homes, often ending up alone and wondering what might have been.
Overall, Willie Jean is a touching and poignant song that captures the longing for a simpler time and the people we left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I think about
Reflecting on past memories
The folks back home
Thinking about family and friends from hometown
And twelve miles of road
Remembering a specific route or path taken
That I used to roam
Wandering aimlessly in the past
Sometimes I think about
Reflecting on past memories
My crazy Willie Jean
Thinking about a wild and unpredictable person named Willie Jean
She ever get as far as New Orleans
Wondering if Willie Jean has traveled to a specific location
We used to spend the summer
Recalling a past activity done during a specific season
On a grassy river bank
Describing the location of a past activity
And drink hot water
Recalling a specific detail of the past activity
From a railroad filling tank
Describing the source of the water previously mentioned
Sometimes I think about
Reflecting on past memories
My crazy Willie Jean
Thinking about a wild and unpredictable person named Willie Jean
Will she ever get as far as New Orleans
Wondering if Willie Jean will reach a specific destination
Daddy told me son
Recalling a piece of advice from father
I see ya your gonna come to harm
Father warning of possible danger in the future
I'm gonna see you on that Knoxville County Farm
Father predicting a specific consequence if the warning is not heeded
Sometimes I think about
Reflecting on past memories
That crazy Willie Jean
Thinking about a wild and unpredictable person named Willie Jean
She ever get as far as New Orleans
Wondering if Willie Jean has traveled to a specific location
Some times I lie awake
Experiencing sleeplessness
And I cry, think about Willie Jean
Feeling emotional while thinking about Willie Jean
She ever get as far as New Orleans
Wondering if Willie Jean has traveled to a specific location
Crazy Willie Jean
Describing the wild and unpredictable nature of Willie Jean
Far as New Orleans
Referencing a specific destination that Willie Jean may or may not have reached
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Traditional ., Harry Pye Cloister
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jerrybennett2853
I think that I remember hearing it the summer of 1966. We were driving back to Chicago, cutting across North Texas and I'm almost positive a local radio station was playing it. I have played other versions of the song, some by good musicians and singers, but I have never heard a better version of the song than what The Shadows of Knight did.
@janetrucksis1875
I remember hearing this on WCFL and loving the hell out of it. I don't know what it is about this cut, as I'm not much of a blues fan, but it was such a joy to hear it. My name isn't WIllie Jean, but I DID get as far as New Orleans. Sometimes I think hearing songs like this inspired me to make the move.
@dougn.3922
On occasion, I still sing that first line to myself, "Sometimes I think about... the folks back home..." Chicago, born and bred
@rikurodriguesneto6043
This song is brimming with space and time. It makes you feel like you're standing at an intersection in the middle of nowhere, with open prairie stretching out to the horizon.
@jerrybennett2853
There was a story, when this came out, that the listing for the lead singer with Ascap or BMI was incorrect so they quit playing it on WCFL and WLS. There was another story that The Shadows of Knight gave the record's premiere to WCFL and WLS wouldn't play it because WLS gave the group their first break, playing Gloria. I think it was Clark Weber that got them to record it. I have no idea if either of these stories is true but this song should have elevated The Shadows of Knight to a higher plane in the music world, in my opinion, which doesn't count for a lot. Does anybody out there know the story behind this record?
@jeffforis1415
Loved that song. Should have made it big!
@jayteadesigns
Yeah, I remember that song came out when I was living in Illinois, I really liked it, but it seemed a lot of people never heard it, which is too bad. As far as I am concerned It could have been a big hit!
@jopabe64
It was definitely a single. Dunwich 151, backed with "The Behemoth."
@denAlexVA
This was a single in the Chicago area!
@limpwang8941
Play this at your local prom