Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Throwback to Hank Williams’ Classic Hit “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)”

Throwback to Hank Williams' Classic Hit "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)"
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

In 1952, Hank Williams earned a No. 1 hit with his track, “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” for a remarkable fourteen non-consecutive weeks. Williams recorded the track in Castle Studio in Nashville, with a top-drawer band including Chet Atkins on lead guitar, Jerry Rivers playing fiddle, and Don Helms on steel guitar.

The song was among the last to be released by Williams before his untimely death. Today, it is still noted as one of his most popular songs.

The Story Behind The Song

There were speculations that Hank Williams may have written “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” with country singer Moon Mullican and their friend Jimmy Rule; however, it could not be credited to Mullican because of his contract with King Records.

The song tells the tale of a man headed to the bayou for some fun. There will be drinking liquor from fruit jars, terrific company, and plenty of food: “Jambalaya, crawfish pie, and fillet gumbo.” Yes, the song is not just about the Cajun dish; it’s a two-minute musical look at American Cajun culture.

“A good-bye Joe, you gotta go, me oh my oh. He gotta go-pole the pirogue down the bayou. His Yvonne the sweetest one, me oh my oh. Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou,” the song begins.

Yvonne is the man’s “ma cher amio,” a Cajun French term that means “my good friend” or more likely “my girlfriend.” Regarding Cajun culture, “ma cher amio” means my dear, which refers to Yvonne in this song. Williams composed a sequel to “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” from the female perspective, titled “I’m Yvonne (Of the Bayou)” and was recorded by Goldie Hill; however, it was not as popular.

“Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” also spawned numerous cover versions and has since achieved popularity in several different music genres. The most notable one was of The Carpenters, who featured the song, in an uptempo pop version with country flourishes, off their album Now & Then in 1973. Their version was released as a single outside the United States in 1974, and it sold well in the United Kingdom (peaking at No. 12 in the charts), Mexico, Germany, and Japan.

Hank Williams’ Rare Live Performance of “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)”

Thanks to the 20-disc box set that was released in 2017, we got the opportunity to access over five hundred tracks of lost performances from our favorite country legends – that includes one from Hank Williams.

The box set was named after the Louisiana Hayride Show that took place at the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, where music fans would flock every Saturday night for the best entertainment of their lives. Hank Williams would regularly play there at the start of his career and then towards the end.

Williams first performed in the Louisiana Hayride four months after it was launched in 1948 and another one when his career finally took off, so did the show’s popularity. In the introduction to the previously unreleased version of “Jambalaya (On the Bayou),” emcee Horace Logan told the audience that Williams’ might sing another if they enjoy his song. If the audience approves, he’d be back the next week to sing even more songs. 

After Logan’s introduction, Williams gave one of the best performances of “Jambalaya (On the Bayou),” and the audience went absolutely wild! A little over two months later, Williams sadly passed away at just 29 years old.

You can listen to Hank Williams belting out his classic “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” in the video below.

Latest Stories

Roy Rogers, smiling in his signature cowboy hat and embroidered suit, remembered by fans as the King of the Cowboys in 1998.

On This Day, Fans Remember Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys, Who Rode Off in 1998

Sometimes the cowboy who taught America how to ride tall in the saddle and tip a hat with a smile is the one who leaves the biggest boots to fill. ...

Julian Ryan smiles with his fiancée and kids in a family photo before the Texas floods that took his life in a heartbreaking tragedy.

Young Dad’s Heartbreaking Final Words Revealed by Family After Texas Flooding Tragedy

Julian Ryan wasn’t just another name on the growing list of the dead in the Texas flood disaster. He was a father, a fiancé, and, in his final moments, a ...

Miranda Lambert performs onstage at a concert, now under fire for focusing on animals during the Texas floods tragedy.

Miranda Lambert Under Fire for Asking Help for Animals in Texas Floods While People Still Missing

Sometimes, doing the right thing still gets you dragged through the mud. Miranda Lambert, country’s resident dog lover and unapologetic Texas girl, is catching flak this week for what some ...

Texas Floods Leave 51 Dead Including 15 Children as Families Face Unthinkable Loss

Texas Floods Leave 51 Dead Including 15 Children as Families Face Unthinkable Loss

One moment, it was just another summer night in the Texas Hill Country, the next the river rose like an angry giant and tore whole lives apart. According to AP ...

Keith Urban holds a CMA award on stage, showing the same trophies he often ships home so his mom can keep a room full of them.

Keith Urban Gives Away Almost Every Award He Wins So One Person Can Keep a Room Full of Them

Keith Urban doesn’t just pick up awards, he packs them up and ships them off faster than most country stars can find a shelf. For a guy who’s racked up ...

Toby Keith performs with his American flag guitar, the same patriotic spirit that fueled his song "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue."

The Untold Truth Behind Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)”

When Toby Keith sat down with a fantasy football stat sheet and scribbled out “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue”, he didn’t just write a song. He lit a ...

Toby Keith plays guitar with an American flag design, capturing the patriotic vibe perfect for a Fourth of July country playlist.

35 Patriotic Country Songs to Turn Your Backyard Into the Ultimate 4th of July Party

Nothing says freedom like blasting a rowdy country playlist while you torch a few burgers, keep the cooler stocked, and watch your drunk uncle light fireworks way too close to ...

Keith Urban sits next to Nicole Kidman looking serious, a moment that echoes him shutting down talk about her steamy movie scenes.

Keith Urban Shuts Down Interview When Nicole Kidman’s Scenes With Younger Men Are Mentioned

Some lines just ain’t worth crossing, especially when you’re asking Keith Urban about Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron rolling around on screen. This week, the whole thing went sideways when ...

Tim McGraw sits outdoors with Faith Hill, leaning on a cane, sparking questions about his health but showing their strong bond.

Tim McGraw Using a Cane With Faith Hill Beside Him Raises Questions About His Health

Sometimes country music’s strongest cowboys need a little help standing tall, and Tim McGraw’s latest photo has folks asking how much longer he can keep carrying that torch. It’s not ...

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood smile together at an event, standing united amid the ongoing sexual assault lawsuit drama.

Garth Brooks’ Marriage With Trisha Yearwood Reportedly Unshaken by Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Nothing tests a marriage like ugly headlines, but Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are riding out this storm shoulder to shoulder. Since last October, Garth Brooks has been staring down ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.