About The Song
In the realm of country music, there are songs that twang with familiar melodies and heartfelt lyrics, and then there are those that weave tales of adventure, intrigue, and larger-than-life characters. Jerry Reed’s “Amos Moses” falls into the latter category, painting a vivid portrait of a swamp-dwelling Cajun alligator hunter with a reputation as tough as the reptile he wrangles.
Released in 1970, “Amos Moses” quickly became a country music staple, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and cementing Reed’s status as a master storyteller. The song’s narrator sets the scene, introducing us to Amos Moses, a solitary figure residing deep in the Louisiana bayou. With a mischievous grin, he paints Amos as a local legend, a man of few words but immense skill, capable of subduing even the most formidable alligator with his bare hands.
The lyrics delve into Amos’s upbringing, revealing a childhood marked by hardship and resilience. His father, a stern and unforgiving man, used Amos as alligator bait, an act that hardened the young boy and instilled in him a primal determination to survive. As Amos grew, so did his reputation as a formidable alligator hunter. His prowess spread throughout the bayou, attracting both admiration and fear from the local populace.
The song’s narrative takes a dramatic turn when the sheriff attempts to apprehend Amos for his illegal alligator hunting activities. However, the swamp proves to be Amos’s ally, swallowing the sheriff whole and leaving no trace of his intrusion. The sheriff’s disappearance serves as a stark reminder of Amos’s dominion over the swamp, a place where the law of man holds little sway.
“Amos Moses” concludes with a sense of awe and admiration for its titular character. Amos stands as a symbol of untamed wilderness, a man who has not only survived but thrived in the harsh and unforgiving environment of the swamp. His story is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to adapt, endure, and even conquer the most challenging circumstances.
Jerry Reed’s masterful storytelling, coupled with the song’s infectious melody and swampy atmosphere, has made “Amos Moses” an enduring classic. It’s a song that celebrates the rugged individualism and can-do spirit that are deeply embedded in the American ethos. So, the next time you find yourself humming along to its catchy tune, take a moment to appreciate the tale of Amos Moses, a man who dared to tame the wild and emerged as a legend.
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Lyric
Yeah, here comes AmosNow Amos Moses was a CajunHe lived by himself in the swampHe hunted alligator for a livingHe’d just knock them in the head with a stumpThe Louisiana law gonna get you, AmosIt ain’t legal hunting alligator down in the swamp, boyNow everyone blamed his old manFor making him mean as a snakeWhen Amos Moses was a boyHis daddy would use him for alligator baitTie a rope around his base and throw him in the swamp (hahaha)Alligator bait in the Louisiana bayouAbout forty-five minutes southeast of Thibodaux, LouisianaLived a man called Doc Millsap and his pretty wife HannahWell, they raised up a son that could eat up his weight in groceriesNamed him after a man of the clothCalled him Amos Moses, yeah (haha)Now the folks from down south LouisianaSaid Amos was a hell of a manHe could trap the biggest, the meanest alligatorAnd he’d just use one handThat’s all he got left ’cause an alligator bit it (hahaha)Left arm gone clear up to the elbowWell the sheriff caught wind that AmosWas in the swamp trapping alligator skinSo he snuck in the swamp to gon’ and get the boyBut he never come out againWell, I wonder where the Louisiana sheriff went toWell, you can sure get lost in the Louisiana bayouAbout forty-five minutes southeast of Thibodaux, LouisianaLived a cat called Doc Millsap and his pretty wife HannahWell, they raised up a son that could eat up his weight in groceriesNamed him after a man of the clothCalled him Amos MosesSit down on ’em Amos!Make it count sonAbout forty-five minutes southeast of Thibodaux, LouisianaLived a man called Doc Millsap and his pretty wife Hannah