Chris Jones & The Night Drivers have released a music video for their rendition of Tom T. Hall’s Vietnam War-era song, “Mama Bake a Pie (Daddy Kill a Chicken).” The track, originally penned by the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, combines Hall’s signature mix of humor and heartbreak, offering a stark, wry perspective on a wounded soldier’s return home.
“This is the first Tom T. Hall song I’ve recorded since his passing,” Jones explains. “He had a unique way of weaving humor into tragedy, and this song is a prime example. I had considered recording it years ago, but when I mentioned it to Tom T. and Dixie, they wrote ‘Hero in Harlan’ for me instead.”
The Night Drivers stay true to Hall’s easy, syncopated rhythm while enhancing the arrangement with acoustic elements. Mark Stoffel’s mandolin and guest fiddler Carley Arrowood add new dimensions to the song, while vocal harmonies from Stoffel and Grace van’t Hof provide motional weight. Jones’ deep vocal delivery preserves the laconic storytelling of Hall’s original:
The bottle hidden underneath the blanket, over my two battered legs
I can see the stewardess make over me and ask, “Were you afraid?”
I’ll say, “Why, no, I’m Superman, and couldn’t find the phone booth quite in time.”
Chris Jones & The Night Drivers have built a reputation for crafting elegant yet hard-driving bluegrass, combining sharp musicianship with wry humor and emotional depth. Their music has captivated audiences at major festivals, from MerleFest to Huck Finn Jubilee, and beyond.
Acclaimed for his smooth, distinctive vocals, Jones has collaborated with bluegrass legends such as Earl Scruggs, Vassar Clements, and Irish band The Chieftains.
The band includes Mark Stoffel (mandolin), Grace van’t Hof (banjo, ukulele), and Marshall Wilborn (bass), each a highly respected musician in the genre. Collectively, they have earned more than a dozen IBMA awards and recorded multiple #1 bluegrass hits. Jones is also well-known as an award-winning DJ on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction and Willie’s Roadhouse.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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