Shooter Jennings lived his first few years in a crib on his parents' tour bus. By age five, he was playing drums. Between tours, he took piano lessons. He started playing guitar at fourteen and sometimes played in his father's band. He and his father recorded a few things together when they happened to have some microphones set up and the tape recorder plugged in. At age sixteen, Jennings discovered rock 'n' roll.
As an adult, Jennings left Nashville, Tennessee to seek his fortunes in Los Angeles. He assembled and performed with Stargunn, a southern rock band whose sound he described as Lynyrd Skynyrd mutating into Guns N' Roses. Stargunn performed at local clubs for six years, built a rabid following and earned praise from the local music press. But the Hollywood party scene eventually began to bother him. He says, "I was posing as a rocker—a country guy trying to be something he wasn't."
On March 30, 2003, Jennings dissolved Stargunn and moved to New York City to spend time with his girlfriend and sort out what he wanted to do next. An unexpected gig at the House of Blues a few weeks later revived his creativity. He returned to Los Angeles to form another band, the 357s. After six weeks in the studio, he completed his first solo album, Put the O Back in Country. Universal South released the album in early 2005.
Jennings portrayed his father in the Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line. He is the host of Shooter Jennings' Electric Rodeo, a two-hour weekly music show on Sirius Satellite Radio's Outlaw Country channel. He currently dates Drea de Matteo. Shooter Jennings' second solo album "Electric Rodeo" was released on April 04, 2006.
Busted In Baylor County
Shooter Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We left L.A. on Sunday, in Lubbock by Tuesday
That's where we played our second show
Where nobody knew us, so nobody noticed the songs that the band didn't know
We were eatin' up the white lines, makin' good time
Diggin' the songs on the radio
And that party kept a movin' and you know what we were doin'
We were smokin' up that California gold
Now everyone was glad, "The Weight" played by The Band
You know I never had that song ever let me down
And I didn't notice I was speedin' but in the rear-view mirror blinkin'
Were them state trooper's lights all spinnin' 'round
We rolled down the windows, so we didn't think that he would notice
Something smellin' funny in that smoke cloud
And he asked, 'What you boys a-hidin'?' and we were all silent
'Cause I think he heard us clear and loud
And we were busted
Busted in Baylor County
Busted, busted in Baylor County
"Oh no, my Weed!"
He spread us all along the highway, cuffed us all and turned us away
And started pokin' round the truck for cake
And we all stood there high as a kite, and he found it alright
And don't y'all make light of the number one dope dog in the state
That mutt found the joint in my pocket that was buried and locked up
In the back of the trailer underneath the guitars and the piano seat
And off we went to jail all locked up in a cell
Charged with possession of that sweet leaf
And we were busted
Busted in Baylor County
Busted, busted in Baylor County
Now I was still pretty buzzed when they called in the judge
Who greeted me with a smile and a warm handshake
And he said, "I'm so sorry" 'cause they couldn't un-arrest us
But that was up to some other official magistrate
And he said, 'Don't you worry, son, all the charges are gone
But I've got a few autographs for you to sign.'
And they sprang us out right quick, so we could get up on the stick
To Wichita Falls by show time
To tell 'em
We were busted
Busted in Baylor County
Busted, busted in Baylor County
Busted, busted in Baylor County
Busted, busted in Baylor County
In Shooter Jennings's song "Busted In Baylor County," the lyrics tell the story of a band on the road traveling from L.A. to their next show in Lubbock. The first few days on the road were uneventful, and they played their second show in Lubbock, where nobody knew them, and a series of events led to them getting arrested in Baylor County, Texas. While on the road, the band was listening to songs on the radio, smoking weed, and having a great time. They were pulled over by a state trooper for speeding, and when he approached, the band were all silent, and they did not know what he was going to do. The state trooper then found a joint in the lead singer's pocket, causing them all to be arrested and thrown in jail.
The band members were worried they would be charged with possession of the sweet leaf and would face a long sentence in jail. However, they were released after getting autographs for the judge. The song ends with the band arriving in Wichita Falls just in time for their next show. The lyrics of the song give us an insight into life on the road for a band, the highs and lows, and the risks and rewards.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on boys, let's hit the road!
The singer and his bandmates are leaving Los Angeles to play shows in other cities.
We left L.A. on Sunday, in Lubbock by Tuesday
The band traveled a long distance in just a few days to reach Lubbock, Texas.
That's where we played our second show
The band played a show in Lubbock as part of their tour.
Where nobody knew us, so nobody noticed the songs that the band didn't know
The band played in an unfamiliar place where nobody knew their music well enough to notice if they made mistakes.
We were eatin' up the white lines, makin' good time
The band was driving fast and traveling long distances quickly.
Diggin' the songs on the radio
The band was enjoying the music they heard on the radio while driving.
And that party kept a movin' and you know what we were doin'
The band was partying and having a good time on the road.
We were smokin' up that California gold
The band was smoking marijuana while traveling.
Now everyone was glad, 'The Weight' played by The Band
The band and the people around them enjoyed the song, 'The Weight,' by The Band.
You know I never had that song ever let me down
The singer has always enjoyed the song 'The Weight.'
And I didn't notice I was speedin' but in the rear-view mirror blinkin'
The singer was driving too fast and didn't realize it until he saw the flashing lights behind him.
Were them state trooper's lights all spinnin' 'round
The singer was pulled over by a state trooper for speeding.
We rolled down the windows, so we didn't think that he would notice
The band opened the windows to let the smell of marijuana out, thinking the trooper wouldn't notice anything suspicious.
Something smellin' funny in that smoke cloud
The trooper smelled marijuana smoke coming from the band's vehicle.
And he asked, 'What you boys a-hidin'?' and we were all silent
The trooper asked the band what they were hiding, and nobody answered.
'Cause I think he heard us clear and loud
The trooper suspected the band was hiding something and could tell they were hiding the truth.
And we were busted
The band was caught breaking the law.
Busted in Baylor County
The band was caught breaking the law in Baylor County, Texas.
Busted, busted in Baylor County
Repetition of the previous line for emphasis.
"Oh no, my Weed!"
The singer's personal stash of marijuana was found by the trooper.
He spread us all along the highway, cuffed us all and turned us away
The band was arrested and taken into custody.
And started pokin' round the truck for cake
The trooper searched the band's vehicle for further evidence of wrongdoing.
And we all stood there high as a kite, and he found it alright
The band was still under the influence of marijuana while being searched by the trooper, and he found more evidence of their drug use.
And don't y'all make light of the number one dope dog in the state
The trooper's drug-sniffing dog found the singer's hidden stash of marijuana.
That mutt found the joint in my pocket that was buried and locked up
The dog was able to detect drugs even though they were hidden and locked away in the singer's pocket.
In the back of the trailer underneath the guitars and the piano seat
The singer's stash of marijuana was hidden beneath musical instruments in the band's trailer.
And off we went to jail all locked up in a cell
The band was taken to jail and imprisoned for their drug use.
Charged with possession of that sweet leaf
The band was charged with the possession of marijuana.
Now I was still pretty buzzed when they called in the judge
The singer was still under the influence of marijuana when he met the judge for his trial.
Who greeted me with a smile and a warm handshake
The judge was friendly and welcoming to the singer, despite his charges.
And he said, "I'm so sorry" 'cause they couldn't un-arrest us
The judge expressed regret that he couldn't simply release the band from jail.
But that was up to some other official magistrate
The judge explained that another official would need to handle the band's case before they could be released.
And he said, 'Don't you worry, son, all the charges are gone
The judge reassured the singer that all charges against him would be dropped.
But I've got a few autographs for you to sign.'
The judge asked the band members to sign autographs for him.
And they sprang us out right quick, so we could get up on the stick
The band was quickly released from jail so they could make it to their next show in time.
To Wichita Falls by show time
The band needed to get to Wichita Falls, Texas in time for their next show.
To tell 'em we were busted
The band planned to tell their audience about their recent arrest and experience being busted for drug possession.
Busted in Baylor County
Repetition of earlier chorus to end the song.
Busted, busted in Baylor County
Repetition of earlier chorus to end the song.
Busted, busted in Baylor County
Repetition of earlier chorus to end the song.
Busted, busted in Baylor County
Repetition of earlier chorus to end the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: LEROY POWELL, WAYLON ALBRIGHT JENNINGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind