Amos Moses

Last updated
"Amos Moses"
Jerry Reed - Amos Moses single.png
Single by Jerry Reed
from the album Georgia Sunshine
B-side "The Preacher and the Bear"
ReleasedOctober 19, 1970
Genre
Length2:19
Label RCA Records
Songwriter(s) Jerry Reed
Producer(s) Chet Atkins
Jerry Reed singles chronology
"The Preacher and the Bear"
(1970)
"Amos Moses"
(1970)
"When You're Hot, You're Hot"
(1971)
Alternative cover
Amos Moses (German Cover().jpg
German album artwork of the 7" release of Amos Moses

"Amos Moses" is a song written and recorded by American musician Jerry Reed. It was released in October 1970 as the fourth and final single from the album Georgia Sunshine and was his highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, bowing at #97 on October 31, 1970, and peaking at #8 on February 27 and March 6, 1971. It has been used ever since as a line dance taught at YMCAs. "Amos Moses" was certified gold for sales of 1 million units by the RIAA. It was #28 on Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1971 and also appeared on several other countries' charts.

Contents

Content

The song tells the story of a one-armed Cajun alligator poacher named Amos Moses, son of "Doc Milsap" and his wife Hannah, who lived "about 45 minutes southeast of Thibodaux, Louisiana." The song tells the story of Amos's life, his upbringing, and his troubles with the law for illegally hunting alligators, including how a sheriff "snuck in the swamp [to] get the boy, but he never come out again." suggesting the sheriff got lost in the bayou but the song leaves the actual fate of the sheriff's ambiguous.

Appearances in other media

The song appears in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on country radio station K-Rose. [3]

The song was featured in an episode of the TV show My Name Is Earl .

It was covered by Les Claypool twice: on Primus's Rhinoplasty EP and on his 2014 Duo de Twang album. It's also been covered by Alabama 3 on their album M.O.R. and by the Pleasure Barons on their 1993 album Live in Las Vegas, with Mojo Nixon on lead vocals. Cross Canadian Ragweed covered the song on 1999's Live and Loud at the Wormy Dog Saloon. Lou Reid also did a bluegrass cover of Amos Moses in 2021.

A version of "Amos Moses" featured on The Sensational Alex Harvey Band's 1976 album SAHB Stories .

The character Amos Moses features as the trapper in Walter Hill's film Southern Comfort played by Brion James.

Chart performance

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Tin Soldier</span> 1969 song performed by The Original Caste

"One Tin Soldier" is a 1960s counterculture era anti-war song written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. Canadian pop group The Original Caste first recorded it in 1969 for both the TA label and its parent Bell label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snowbird (song)</span> 1970 single by Anne Murray

"Snowbird" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Gene MacLellan. Though it has been recorded by many performers, it is best known through Anne Murray's 1969 recording, which—after appearing as an album track in mid-1969—was released as a single in mid-1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Ever Need Is You (song)</span> 1971 single by Sonny & Cher

"All I Ever Need Is You" is a popular song written by Jimmy Holiday and Eddie Reeves, and initially recorded by Ray Charles for his 1971 album, Volcanic Action of My Soul. The most well-known version of the song is the hit single by Sonny & Cher which, in 1971, reached No. 7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was their single of greatest chart longevity, spending 15 weeks on that chart. Their album by the same title sold over 500,000 copies reaching RIAA gold status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smokin' in the Boys Room</span> 1973 single by Brownsville Station

"Smokin' in the Boys Room" is a song originally recorded by Brownsville Station in 1973 on their album Yeah!. It reached number 3 in Canada and on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was later certified by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You Could Read My Mind</span> 1970 single by Gordon Lightfoot

"If You Could Read My Mind" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. Lightfoot wrote the lyrics while he was reflecting on his own divorce. It reached No. 1 on the Canadian Singles Chart on commercial release in 1970 and charted in several other countries on international release in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montego Bay (song)</span> 1970 single by Bobby Bloom

"Montego Bay" is a song co-written and performed by Bobby Bloom about the city in Jamaica of the same name. The song was a top ten hit for Bloom in the Fall of 1970 on both sides of the Atlantic. It reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 5 on the Canadian RPM 100 Singles Chart, No. 7 on the Australian Go-Set Singles Chart and No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was co-written and produced by Jeff Barry. In the master tape of the song, Bloom breaks into a chorus of "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" at the end of the recording. The song features a whistler, as well as Jamaican instruments in a calypso style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make It with You</span> 1970 single by Bread

"Make It with You" is a song written by David Gates and originally recorded by American pop-rock group Bread, of which Gates was a member. Gates and drummer Mike Botts are the only members of the group to appear on the recording, which was Bread's only No.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show and Tell (song)</span> 1973 single by Al Wilson

"Show and Tell" is a popular song written by Jerry Fuller and first recorded by Johnny Mathis in 1972. This original version made it to #36 on the Easy Listening chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunshine (Jonathan Edwards song)</span> 1971 single by Jonathan Edwards

"Sunshine" is a country folk song from 1971 by Jonathan Edwards, released as the first single from his debut album Jonathan Edwards. The single reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on January 15, 1972, and earned a gold record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep On Singing</span> Early 1970s hit song

"Keep on Singing" is a 1973 song composed by Danny Janssen and Bobby Hart, and was originally recorded by Austin Roberts from the album Austin Roberts. It was released as a single on Chelsea Records and reached No. 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 39 on the Cash Box Top 100. In Canada it reached # 79. "Keep on Singing" was best known as a hit single by Helen Reddy in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(There's) No Gettin' Over Me</span> 1981 single by Ronnie Milsap

"(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" is a song written by Walt Aldridge and Tom Brasfield, and recorded by American country music singer Ronnie Milsap. It was released in June 1981 as the first single from the album There's No Gettin' Over Me. Known by many fans by its less grammatically correct title "There Ain't No Gettin' Over Me" — the song's official title appears nowhere in the lyrics — the song became one of Milsap's biggest country hits and his only top 10 pop hit during his recording career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Hitch-Hiker</span> 1971 single by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Sweet Hitch-Hiker" is a song by the American roots/swamp rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival from their 1972 album Mardi Gras. It was first released as a single in 1971 and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their 9th and last top 10 hit. On the Record Retailer UK Singles Chart, it peaked at #36.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When You're Hot, You're Hot</span> 1971 single by Jerry Reed

"When You're Hot, You're Hot" is a 1971 crossover single written and recorded by Jerry Reed. The song was his most successful on the country chart, peaking at number one for five weeks. "When You're Hot, You're Hot" was also Jerry Reed's second song to cross over to the Top 40, peaking at number nine. It also appeared in the Australian and New Zealand charts. "When You're Hot, You're Hot" was certified gold for sales of one million units by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk a Mile in My Shoes</span> 1970 single by Joe South

"Walk a Mile in My Shoes" is a song written by Joe South, who had a hit with it in 1970. South was also producer and arranger of the track and of its B-side, "Shelter." The single was credited to "Joe South and the Believers"; the Believers included his brother Tommy South and his sister-in-law Barbara South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues</span> 1972 single by Danny OKeefe

"Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" is a song written and performed by American folk singer Danny O'Keefe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gypsy Woman (The Impressions song)</span>

"Gypsy Woman" is a 1961 rhythm and blues song written by Curtis Mayfield and recorded by his group the Impressions. The group's first single following the departure of lead singer Jerry Butler, it reached No. 2 on the US Billboard R&B chart, No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on the Cash Box chart. It also appeared on the group's 1963 eponymous debut album. Joe Bataan (1967), Brian Hyland (1970), Bobby Womack (1985), Steve Marriott (1989), and Santana (1990) covered this song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Ending Song of Love</span> 1971 single by Delaney & Bonnie

"Never Ending Song of Love" is a song written by Delaney Bramlett, and, according to some sources, by his wife Bonnie Bramlett. It was originally recorded with their band, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, in 1971 on the album Motel Shot. Released as a single by Atco Records the same year, "Never Ending Song of Love" became Delaney & Bonnie's greatest hit on the pop charts, reaching a peak of No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on Easy Listening. It reached No. 16 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost Without Your Love (song)</span> 1976 single by Bread

"Lost Without Your Love" is a song written and composed by David Gates, and originally recorded by the soft rock group Bread, of which Gates was the leader and primary music producer. It is the title track of Bread's last album which was released in 1976, and the song became their final top 10 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spiders & Snakes (song)</span> 1974 single by Jim Stafford

"Spiders & Snakes" is a 1974 hit song recorded by Jim Stafford and written by Stafford and David Bellamy of The Bellamy Brothers. It was the second of four U.S. Top 40 singles released from his eponymous debut album and also the highest-charting at number three. The lyrics in the verses are spoken, while only the chorus is sung.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Love You for All Seasons</span> 1970 single by The Fuzz

"I Love You for All Seasons" is a song written by Sheila Young and performed by The Fuzz. The song was featured on their 1971 album, The Fuzz. The song was produced by Carr-Cee Productions.

References

  1. Robert Fontenot (November 18, 2017). "What Is Swamp Rock? A look at this Southern mix of country, funk, and soul". ThoughtCo. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  2. Moore, Addie (February 10, 2021). "The 10 Best Jerry Reed Songs, Ranked". Wide Open Country. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  3. "Soundtrack". GTA San Andreas. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 249. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  5. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  6. "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. 1971-03-06. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  7. "Jerry Reed | Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  8. "Go-Set Australian charts - 19 June 1971". Poparchives.com.au. 1971-06-19. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  9. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-02.