About the song
“Hit the Road Jack,” written by Percy Mayfield and famously recorded by Ray Charles, stands as a definitive classic in the realm of rhythm and blues. Originally penned and recorded by Mayfield as an a cappella demo in 1960, the song gained widespread acclaim following Ray Charles’s rendition featuring Margie Hendrix of The Raelettes.
Released in 1961, Ray Charles’s interpretation of “Hit the Road Jack” swiftly ascended to the top of the charts, claiming the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks starting October 9, 1961. The track’s success wasn’t limited to mainstream charts; it also topped the R&B Sides chart for five weeks, marking Charles’s sixth number-one hit in that category. The song’s infectious rhythm and Charles’s soulful delivery contributed to its enduring popularity, making it one of his signature songs.
At the Grammy Awards, “Hit the Road Jack” garnered accolades, winning the Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording. Its cultural impact was further solidified when it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013, recognizing its historical significance and lasting influence in the music industry.
Rolling Stone magazine acknowledged the song’s enduring legacy by ranking it at number 387 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” in 2010, with a previous ranking at number 377 in 2004. This placement underscores the song’s timeless appeal and its status as a milestone in the evolution of rhythm and blues music.
Beyond Ray Charles’s iconic rendition, “Hit the Road Jack” inspired responses and covers across different eras and genres. The Chantels released an answer song titled “Well, I Told You,” which charted on its own at No. 29, showcasing the song’s influence in prompting creative responses from other artists.
In 1976, Canadian band The Stampeders revitalized the song with their own version, featuring DJ Wolfman Jack. Their rendition, included on the album “Steamin’,” achieved notable success, reaching No. 6 in Canada and No. 40 in the United States, attesting to the song’s enduring popularity and cross-cultural appeal.
“Hit the Road Jack” remains a quintessential example of Percy Mayfield’s songwriting prowess and Ray Charles’s unparalleled ability to infuse soul and rhythm into a timeless musical narrative, ensuring its place in the pantheon of classic American music.
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Lyrics
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more
What you say?
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more
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 said so
I’ll have to pack my things and go (that’s right)
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more
What you say?
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more
Now baby, listen baby, don’t ya 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 ain’t no good)
Well, I guess if you say so
I’ll have to pack my things and go (that’s right)
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more
What you say?
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more
Well (don’t you come back no more)
Uh, what you say? (Don’t you come back no more)
I didn’t understand you (don’t you come back no more)
You can’t mean that (don’t you come back no more)
Oh, now baby, please (don’t you come back no more)
What you tryin’ to do to me? (Don’t you come back no more)
Oh, don’t treat me like that (don’t you come back no more)