As a kid, the first I ever heard of Roy Orbison was his biggest hit, Pretty Woman (1964), which was inspired by Orbison's wife, Claudette... interrupting a conversation to announce she was going out. When Orbison asked if she had enough cash, his co-writer Bill Dees interjected, "A pretty woman never needs any money."
Fast forward many years later, I heard another Roy Orbison song in the Stephen King movie Dreamcatcher, and it just always stuck with me. I eventually learned about the tragedy surrounding the singer's first wife, Claudette, and although the song was written well before she passed away, I can't help but think the song is about him missing his wife and remembering a simpler time when they were together.
Anyway, here's my take on Blue Bayou. I had to drop the key a step and a half (From F down to D) just to hit those high notes! RIP Roy... I hope you're on Blue Bayou right now!
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