Good Sunday morning! Jim Adams had prompted us this week with the words, Ocean/Sea/Lake/Bay for Song Lyric Sunday. There are many that spring to mind and I have chosen Blue Bayou by Linda Ronstadt. A bayou is regarded as a body of water so I believe it counts!
A beautiful song and an even more beautiful voice “Blue Bayou” was originally recorded by Roy Orbison on his legendary 1963 album In Dreams. While it only scored as high as #29 in the US (despite scoring #1 in Ireland and #10 in Norway), In the 70s Linda Ronstadt took it to far greater fame as her only gold-selling single and her signature song. Linda Ronstadt has been called “the most successful and certainly the most durable and most gifted woman rock singer of her era” in Andrew Greeley’s book God in Popular Culture. Hope you enjoy it.
Blue Bayou
Lyrics
I feel so bad I got a worried mind
I'm so lonesome all the time
Since I left my baby behind
On Blue Bayou
Saving nickles, saving dimes
Working til the sun don't shine
Looking forward to happier times
On Blue Bayou
I'm going back someday
Come what may
To Blue Bayou
Where the folks are fun
And the world is mine
On Blue Bayou
Where those fishing boats
With their sails afloat
If I could only see
That familiar sunrise
Through sleepy eyes
How happy I'd be
Gonna see my baby again
Gonna be with some of my friends
Maybe I'll feel better again
On Blue Bayou
Saving nickles saving dimes
Working til the sun don't shine
Looking forward to happier times
On Blue Bayou
I'm going back someday
Come what may
To Blue Bayou
Where the folks are fun
And the world is mine
On Blue Bayou
Where those fishing boats
With their sails afloat
If I could only see
That familiar sunrise
Through sleepy eyes
How happy I'd be
Oh that boy of mine
By my side
The silver moon
And the evening tide
Oh some sweet day
Gonna take away
This hurting inside
Well I'll never be blue
My dreams come true
On Blue Bayou
Songwriters: Joe Melson / Roy Orbison
Blue Bayou lyrics © Barbara Orbison Music Company,
Orbi-Lee Music, R-Key Darkus, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Beautiful arrangement of a great song.
Thanks Mary 🙂 She was really special 💕
Linda is one of my favorite female vocalists. She knocks this song out of the park.
Yes, she was amazing, wasn’t she? 💕 Thanks Lisa
Love this beautiful classic! 🙂
Oh me too! It’s beautiful 😍
This is one of those rare songs that transports you instantly to a hopeful place in your imagination that’s sweet and serene. – tsk
Yes! I agree with you Tony. It’s very special 🙂
Sweet!!! Love this song. And a live version just makes this even better!
Yes, she was such a talent. I loved the live version too 🙂
Linda really puts her heart into this song, great choice.
Thanks Jim. It’s a great song. Thanks for the prompt 🙂
Great song! She has the best voice!!
I love her voice! 🙂💕
Me too!!! 😊🤗
Great song, and I actually like Linda Ronstadt’s version a little better. She had a tremendous voice.
I do too John. Her range is amazing. I am a Roy Orbison fan though 🙂
Oh, so am I. Linda’s just very versatile: she’s sung rock, country, standards, and Latino music and did great in all of them. She has MS that affected her voice, so she’s retired.
I knew she was sick and had quit performing. I didn’t know the illness. It’s very sad. My favorite was You’re no good 🙂
Snap, though I went with the original by Roy Orbison
His was great too Di. Great minds think alike! 🙂💕
🙂