Ray Charles’ Hit the Road Jack: A Masterpiece of Rhythm and Blues, Soul, and Jazz

Ray Charles was one of the most influential and versatile musicians of the 20th century, blending genres such as rhythm and blues, soul, gospel, country, and jazz. Among his many hits, one of the most memorable and catchy is Hit the Road Jack, a song that showcases his vocal skills, musical style, and sense of humour.

The Origin of Hit the Road Jack

Hit the Road Jack was written by Percy Mayfield, a rhythm and blues singer, and songwriter who was also known as the “Poet Laureate of the Blues”. Mayfield first recorded a cappella demo of the song in 1960 and sent it to music executive Art Rupe. Rupe liked the song and passed it on to Ray Charles, who was looking for new material for his upcoming album.

Charles was impressed by the song and decided to record it with his backup singers, The Raelettes. He added a catchy piano riff, a horn section, and a call-and-response structure that created a lively dialogue between him and the female vocals. The song was recorded in June 1961 and released as a single in August 1961, with The Danger Zone as the B-side.

The Success of “Hit the Road Jack”

Hit the Road Jack was an instant hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in October 1961. It also topped the R&B Sides chart for five weeks, becoming Charles’ sixth number one on that chart. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording in 1962 and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

The song also became a classic in popular culture, appearing in many movies, TV shows, commercials, and video games. Some examples are:

• The 1995 comedy film Grumpier Old Men
• The 2004 animated film Shrek 2
• The 2006 comedy film Little Miss Sunshine
• The 2010 video game Fallout: New Vegas
• The 2013 TV series Breaking Bad

The song has also been covered or sampled by many artists across different genres, such as rock, pop, hip-hop, reggae, and electronic music. Some notable examples are:

• The Animals, a British rock band, recorded a version of the song in 1966.
• Buster Poindexter, a stage persona of singer David Johansen, released a humorous rendition of the song in 1989.
• MC Lyte, a female rapper, sampled the song on her 1988 track Paper Thin.
• Jazz Liberatorz, a French hip-hop group, sampled the song on their 2008 track Indonesia.
• IShowSpeed, a TikTok star, used the song as a background for his viral videos of him running fast.

The Meaning of Hit the Road Jack

Hit the Road Jack is a tongue-in-cheek verbal duel between a couple who are breaking up. The woman tells the man to hit the road and never come back, while the man pleads with her to give him another chance. The woman accuses him of being mean, no good, and broke, while the man tries to appeal to her emotions and promises to be back on his feet someday.

The song is a playful and upbeat example of Ray Charles’ fusion of rhythm and blues, soul, and jazz. It showcases his vocal range, from his low growls to his high falsettos. It also demonstrates his musical creativity, as he mixes elements from different genres and adds his signature touches.

The song is also a reflection of Ray Charles’ personal life, as he was known for his love affairs and marriages. He had two wives and twelve children from nine different women. He also faced many challenges and hardships throughout his career, such as racism, drug addiction, legal troubles, and blindness.

Despite all these difficulties, Ray Charles never gave up on his music or his passion. He was always optimistic and resilient. He once said, “I don’t think any one thing makes you happy; I think happiness is within yourself.”

Hit the Road Jack is a timeless song that resonates with listeners of all ages and backgrounds, celebrating life’s ups and downs with humour and grace. It reminds us to keep moving forward, despite the obstacles we face. It is a song that proves that Ray Charles was a genius in music.

Ray Charles’ Hit the Road Jack Lyrics

Intro

Chorus: The Raelettes, Ray Charles
Hit the road Jack, and don’t ya come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack, and don’t ya come back no more
What’d you say?
Hit the road Jack, and don’t ya come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack, and don’t ya come back no more

Verse 1: Ray Charles, The Raelettes
Old woman old woman, don’t treat me so mean
You’re the meanest old woman that I’ve ever seen
I guess if you say so
I’ll have to pack my things and go (That’s right)

Chorus: The Raelettes, Ray Charles
Hit the road Jack, and don’t ya come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack, and don’t ya come back no more
What’d you say?
Hit the road Jack, and don’t ya come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack, and don’t ya come back no more

Verse 2: Ray Charles, The Raelettes
Now baby, listen baby, don’t you treat me this way
‘Cause I’ll be back on my feet some day
Don’t care if you do, cause it’s understood
You ain’t got no money, you just a no good
Well I guess if you say so
I’ll have to pack my things and go (That’s right)

Chorus: The Raelettes, Ray Charles
Hit the road Jack, and don’t ya come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack, and don’t ya come back no more
What’d you say?
Hit the road Jack, and don’t ya come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack, and don’t ya come back no more

Outro: Ray Charles, The Raelettes
Well (Don’t ya come back no more)
Uh, what’d you say? (Don’t ya come back no more)
I didn’t understand you (Don’t ya come back no more)
You can’t mean that (Don’t ya come back no more)
Oh, now baby please (Don’t ya come back no more)
What you’re trying to do to me (Don’t ya come back no more)