My Top Ten Hank Songs: Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (#6)

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There are a number of people named Hank in the Country Music Hall of Fame, but there's only one who is identified simply by Hank. That's part of the incredible legacy of Hank Williams. Here's another part of his legacy, one of those signature songs that "everybody" knows. #6: Jambalaya (On the Bayou) Yeah, if you're gonna play country music, you'd better know this song. Yesterday I mentioned a number of rock acts who've done Hank songs, such as George Thorogood's biggest hit in terms of chart success, "Move It On Over." In 1973 John Fogerty, under the pseudonym the Blue Ridge Rangers, hit the top 20 with his rendition of this song. "Jambalaya" is one of those songs that you feel has been around forever. It's one of the few country songs that I feel relatively safe in saying that a sizeable number of people who don't listen to country music at least know the chorus to. And why not? It's a fun song, about having a good time in Louisiana. According to Picky Wedia, this song was co-written with Moon Mullican, who Hank probably met while on a recording session trip to Cincinnati (there's a plaque outside the building where he recorded "Lovesick Blues," and it's significant because it's the ONLY building that Hank recorded in that's still standing). Moon, however, couldn't receive songwriter credit because he was under contract to King Records, which included songwriting contracts, and Syd Nathan wasn't about to let any of his writers go elsewhere. "Jambalaya" has been recorded thousands of times and is one of the great classic songs in American music, not just country music. Jambalaya (On the Bayou) Written by Hank Williams (and possibly Moon Mullican) Released as a single, 1952 One of Hank's last hits in his lifetime: