This article is about the Roy Orbison song. For other uses, see Blue Bayou (disambiguation). Blue Bayou is the title of a song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson. It was originally sung and recorded by Orbison, who had an international hit with his version in 1963. It later became Linda Ronstadt's signature song, with which she scored a charting hit with her cover of Blue Bayou in 1977.