Hank Williams – Jambalaya (On the Bayou)

Hank Williams – Jambalaya (On the Bayou), is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Hank Williams that was first released in July 1952. It is Williams’ most covered song. Named for a Creole and Cajun dish, jambalaya, it spawned numerous cover versions and has since achieved popularity in several different music genres.

Williams recorded the song on June 13, 1952, his first recording session in six months, at Castle Studio in Nashville with backing provided by Jerry Rivers (fiddle), Don Helms (steel guitar), Chet Atkins (lead guitar), Chuck Wright (bass) and probably Ernie Newton (bass). The recording Williams made differs significantly from Mullican’s, which was released in the same month as Williams’ version but with a different order of verses and extra rhyming couplets.

Released in July 1952, it reached number one on the U.S. country charts for fourteen non-consecutive weeks. Williams performed “Jambalaya” at the Louisiana Hayride as part of his “homecoming” in fall, 1952 (after being fired from the Grand Ole Opry). A live recording released as part of a series of Hayride performances includes outbursts of applause. Another unreleased version is included in the 2017 CD set, At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight.

Hank Williams – Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
Single by Hank Williams
B-side “Window Shopping”
Published July 28, 1952 Acuff-Rose Publications
Released July 19, 1952
Recorded June 13, 1952
Studio Castle Studio, Nashville
Genre Country, honky-tonk, country blues
Length 2:52
Label MGM K 11283
Songwriter(s) Hank Williams Moon Mullican

COUNTRYPEDIA

Hank Williams – Jambalaya (On the Bayou) Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Goodbye Joe me gotta go me oh my oh
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou
My Yvonne the sweetest one me oh my oh
Son of me gun we’ll have big fun on the bayou
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie on a filé gumbo
‘Cause tonight I’m gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, filled fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of me gun we’ll have big fun on the bayou

[Verse 2]
Thibodaux Fontaineaux the place is buzzin’
Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Dressed in style, go hog wild, oh me oh my oh
Son of me gun we’ll have big fun on the bayou
Settle down far from town get me a pirogue
And I’ll catch all the fish in the bayou

[Chorus]
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie on a filé gumbo
‘Cause tonight I’m gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, filled fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of me gun we’ll have big fun on the bayou
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie on a filé gumbo
‘Cause tonight I’m gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar, filled fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of me gun we’ll have big fun on the bayou
Son of me gun we’ll have big fun on the bayou

[Verse 3]
Later on, swap my mon, get me a pirogue
And I’ll catch all the fish on the bayou
Swap my mon, to buy Yvonne what she need-oh
Son of a gun we’ll have big fun on the bayou
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie…

GENIUS