Number One Songs—Hit The Road Jack

"Hit The Road Jack" is the musical refrain of the commercials; see ya later unwanted crabgrass.

"Hit The Road Jack," as performed by the legendary Ray Charles, hit #1 on the Billboard R&B charts in September of 1961. The BMI Award Winning Song was not written by Charles but by his contemporary bluesman and frequent song contributor, Percy Mayfield.

"Hit The Road Jack" has been recorded many times by artists as diverse as Shirley Horn, Loretta Lynn and Buster Poindexter. Mayfield himself recorded the song during his successful recording artist career which was sadly and tragically interrupted by an automobile accident in 1952, although he continued to write and perform well into the 60s.

From AllMusic.com:

"A masterful songwriter whose touching blues ballad "Please Send Me Someone to Love," a multi-layered universal lament, was a number one R&B hit in 1950, Percy Mayfield had the world by the tail until a horrific 1952 auto wreck left him facially disfigured. That didn't stop 'the poet laureate of the blues' from writing in a prolific fashion, though. As Ray Charles' favorite scribe during the '60s, he handed the Genius such gems as 'Hit the Road Jack' and 'At the Club.'"

From FindAGrave.com:

"In 1952, at the height of his popularity, Percy was returning to Los Angeles from Las Vegas with his entourage in his brand new Chrysler with his chauffer and assistant at the wheel. It was a dark night with several hills on the old highway that was used back then. When they topped a hill and began their descent, a large truck was stalled in the middle of the lane and his car plowed into the back of the truck at about 60mph. Percy was in the front passenger seat and was thrown forward as the engine came through the firewall, striking him in the face. Percy was actually pronounced dead at the scene until rescuers heard him moaning. He was horribly disfigured as a result and convalesced for over two years before regaining his spirit to return to performing. In 1962, Ray Charles hired him as a staff writer for his newly formed record label, Tangerine."

(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.)

Woah Woman, oh 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'd 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-a 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'd 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.)