Along Came Jones (song)
Encyclopedia
"Along Came Jones" is a comedic song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
and originally recorded by The Coasters
, but covered by many other groups and individuals.
villain, "Salty Sam," and a ranch-owning woman, "Sweet Sue," on an unnamed television show.
The TV show features various damsel in distress
situations, whereby Sam abducts Sue and places her in peril, intended to force her to give him the deed to her ranch – or face a gruesome death:
However, Sue is rescued, and Sam's plans foiled, by the hero – a "tall, thin, slow-walkin', slow-talkin', long, lean, lanky" fellow named Jones. (How Jones manages to defeat Sam and rescue Sue is never told.)
film Along Came Jones
, a Western
comedy in which "long, lean, lanky" Cooper mercilessly lampoons his "slow-walkin', slow-talkin'" screen persona; songwriter Mike Stoller studied orchestration with Arthur Lange, who composed the score for the film. The song was a satirical statement about how mainstream entertainment was irrelevant to 1950s teenagers in general, and to black teenagers in particular. (An early draft of the lyric made pointed references to Jones' white hat and white horse.)
in 1969, reaching a peak of #27 on the Billboard Hot 100
. Stevems was also the voice of the outlaw. Stevens used a girl who yells and screams "Help", with humorous ad-libs, ("he tied me up again" , "Here comes the Train, Here comes the Train, Help!!") also including the sounds of recorded laughter and cheering from an audience, also including a brief quote from Rossini's "William Tell Overture" before it ends. Another cover was done by the Righteous Brothers on their Sayin' Something album, notable for the "And then?" vocalist losing his patience by the third verse.
Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones (of The Monkees
fame), did a cover version with Monkees songwriters, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
, on the album Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart
in 1976. It was notable for Davy (the "Jones" of the title) making humorous comments in a mock British posh accent ("That's not cricket, old chap").
French singer Henri Salvador
covered the song in French but with different lyrics and a different children's television hero in the starring role: "Zorro
est Arrivé" (1964).
The song is alluded to in the song "Million Dollar Bash" by Bob Dylan
.
Norwegian group The Key Brothers & The Quivers recorded a (norwegian) version in 1965 called “Og så kom helgenen frem” (And then The Saint Arrived), putting The Saint (Roger Moore) in Jones’ role. It features the signature melody line from “The Saint” show.
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerome "Jerry" Leiber and Mike Stoller were American songwriting and record producing partners. Stoller was the composer and Leiber the lyricist. Their most famous songs include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City", "Stand By Me" Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011)...
and originally recorded by The Coasters
The Coasters
The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller...
, but covered by many other groups and individuals.
The song
Told from the perspective of a person who decides to watch television, the song tells of the interaction between a gunslinger stockStock character
A Stock character is a fictional character based on a common literary or social stereotype. Stock characters rely heavily on cultural types or names for their personality, manner of speech, and other characteristics. In their most general form, stock characters are related to literary archetypes,...
villain, "Salty Sam," and a ranch-owning woman, "Sweet Sue," on an unnamed television show.
The TV show features various damsel in distress
Damsel in distress
The subject of the damsel in distress, or persecuted maiden, is a classic theme in world literature, art, and film. She is usually a beautiful young woman placed in a dire predicament by a villain or monster and who requires a hero to achieve her rescue. She has become a stock character of fiction,...
situations, whereby Sam abducts Sue and places her in peril, intended to force her to give him the deed to her ranch – or face a gruesome death:
- In the first verse, the viewer watches Sam attempt to kill Sue by cutting her in half in an abandoned sawmillSawmillA sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
. - In the second verse, the viewer fixes a snack during a commercial break, and comes back to see Sam attempting to blow up Sue in an abandoned mine.
- In the third verse, apparently tired of the show, the viewer changes channels – only to find another episode of the same show, this time with Sam attempting to stuff Sue in a burlap sack and throw her in front of an oncoming train.
However, Sue is rescued, and Sam's plans foiled, by the hero – a "tall, thin, slow-walkin', slow-talkin', long, lean, lanky" fellow named Jones. (How Jones manages to defeat Sam and rescue Sue is never told.)
Origins and meaning
The song was inspired in part by the 1945 Gary CooperGary Cooper
Frank James Cooper, known professionally as Gary Cooper, was an American film actor. He was renowned for his quiet, understated acting style and his stoic, but at times intense screen persona, which was particularly well suited to the many Westerns he made...
film Along Came Jones
Along Came Jones (film)
Along Came Jones is a 1945 western comedy film starring Gary Cooper, Loretta Young, William Demarest, and Dan Duryea, in which Cooper mercilessly spoofs his own slow-talking cowboy persona. The movie was adapted by Nunnally Johnson from the novel Useless Cowboy by Alan Le May, and directed by...
, a Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
comedy in which "long, lean, lanky" Cooper mercilessly lampoons his "slow-walkin', slow-talkin'" screen persona; songwriter Mike Stoller studied orchestration with Arthur Lange, who composed the score for the film. The song was a satirical statement about how mainstream entertainment was irrelevant to 1950s teenagers in general, and to black teenagers in particular. (An early draft of the lyric made pointed references to Jones' white hat and white horse.)
Cover versions
A cover version was recorded by novelty pop artist Ray StevensRay Stevens
Ray Stevens is an American country music, pop singer-songwriter who has become known for his novelty songs.-Early career:...
in 1969, reaching a peak of #27 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Stevems was also the voice of the outlaw. Stevens used a girl who yells and screams "Help", with humorous ad-libs, ("he tied me up again" , "Here comes the Train, Here comes the Train, Help!!") also including the sounds of recorded laughter and cheering from an audience, also including a brief quote from Rossini's "William Tell Overture" before it ends. Another cover was done by the Righteous Brothers on their Sayin' Something album, notable for the "And then?" vocalist losing his patience by the third verse.
Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones (of The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
fame), did a cover version with Monkees songwriters, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Boyce and Hart
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart were a prolific songwriting duo, best known for the songs they wrote for The Monkees.-Early years:Hart's father was a church minister and he himself served in the Army after leaving high school, Upon discharge,...
, on the album Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart was an album released by the group of the same name, released in 1976. The group consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. Dolenz and Jones had been members of '60s pop group/band The Monkees while Boyce and Hart had written many of the groups...
in 1976. It was notable for Davy (the "Jones" of the title) making humorous comments in a mock British posh accent ("That's not cricket, old chap").
French singer Henri Salvador
Henri Salvador
Henri Salvador was a French Caribbean singer.-Biography:Salvador was born in Cayenne, French Guiana. His father, Clovis, and his mother, Antonine Paterne, daughter of a native Indian from the Caribbean, were both from Guadeloupe, French West Indies...
covered the song in French but with different lyrics and a different children's television hero in the starring role: "Zorro
Zorro
Zorro is a fictional character created in 1919 by New York-based pulp writer Johnston McCulley. The character has been featured in numerous books, films, television series, and other media....
est Arrivé" (1964).
The song is alluded to in the song "Million Dollar Bash" by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
.
Norwegian group The Key Brothers & The Quivers recorded a (norwegian) version in 1965 called “Og så kom helgenen frem” (And then The Saint Arrived), putting The Saint (Roger Moore) in Jones’ role. It features the signature melody line from “The Saint” show.