Along Came Jones

“Along Came Jones” is a comedic song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by the Coasters, in 1959 peaking at number 9 in the Billboard Hot 100 but covered by many other groups and individuals. Told from the perspective of a person watching television, the song tells of the interaction between a hero (“Jones”), a bad gunslinger (“Salty Sam”) and a ranch owner (“Sweet Sue”) on an unnamed television show. The television shows feature various “damsel in distress” scenarios, whereby Sam abducts Sue and places her in peril, intending to force her to give him the deed to her ranch or face a gruesome death. The tenor saxophone heard on this record by The Coasters is King Curtis, who played the saxophone on many of their hits.