Jennings then worked as a DJ in Coolidge, Arizona, and Phoenix. He formed a rockabilly club band, The Waylors. He recorded for independent label Trend Records and A&M Records before succeeding with RCA Victor after achieving creative control.
During the 1970s, Jennings was instrumental in the inception of Outlaw country movement. He released critically acclaimed albums Lonesome, On'ry and Mean and Honky Tonk Heroes followed by hit albums Dreaming My Dreams as well as Are You Ready for the Country. In 1976, he released the album Wanted! The Outlaws with Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, and Jessi Colter, the first platinum country music album. That success was followed by Ol' Waylon and the hit song "Luckenbach, Texas". Jennings was featured in the 1978 album White Mansions performed by various artists documenting the lives of people in the Confederacy during the Civil War. The songs on the album were written by Paul Kennerley. By the early 1980s, Jennings was struggling with a cocaine addiction, which he quit in 1984. Later, he joined the country supergroup The Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash, which released three albums between 1985 and 1995. During that period, Jennings released the successful album Will the Wolf Survive. He toured less after 1997 to spend more time with his family. Between 1999 and 2001, his appearances were limited by health problems. On February 13, 2002, Jennings died from complications of diabetes.
Jennings also appeared in films and television series. He was the balladeer for The Dukes of Hazzard, composing and singing the show's theme song and providing narration for the show. In 2001, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, which he chose not to attend. In 2007, he was posthumously awarded the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award by the Academy of Country Music.
Jennings's music was characterized by his "powerful" singing voice, noted by his "rough-edged quality", as well as his phrasing and texture. He was also recognized for his "spanky-twang" guitar style. To create his sound, he used a pronounced 'phaser' effect' plus a mixture of thumb and fingers during the rhythmic parts, while using picks for the lead runs. He combined hammer-on and pull-off riffs, with eventual upper-fret double stops and modulation effects. Jennings played a 1953 Fender Telecaster, a used guitar that was a gift from The Waylors. Jennings's bandmates adorned his guitar with a distinctive leather cover that featured a black background with a white floral work. Jennings further customized it by filing down the frets to lower the strings on the neck to obtain the slapping sound. Among his other guitars, Jennings used a 1950 Fender Broadcaster from the mid-1970s, until he gave it to guitarist Reggie Young in 1993. The leather covers of his guitars were carved by leather artist Terry Lankford.
His signature image was characterized by his long hair and beard, as well as his black hat and the black leather vest he wore during his appearances.
Jennings's music had a major influence on several neotraditionalist and alternative country artists, including Hank Williams Jr., The Marshall Tucker Band,[124] Travis Tritt, Steve Earle, Jamey Johnson, John Anderson, his son, Shooter Jennings, Sturgill Simpson, and Hank Williams III.
In 2008, his first posthumous album, Waylon Forever, was released. The album consisted of songs recorded with his son Shooter when he was 16. In 2012, Waylon: The Music Inside a three-volume project, consisting of covers of Jennings's songs by different artists, was released. The same year, it was announced for September the release of Goin' Down Rockin': The Last Recordings, a set of 12 songs recorded by Jennings and bassist Robby Turner before his death in 2002. Jennings's family was reluctant to release any new material because they did not feel comfortable at the time. The songs only featured Jennings and Turner on the bass, while further accompaniment would be added later. Ten years after, Turner completed the recordings with the help of former Waylors. The Jennings family approved the release despite the launch of a new business focused on his estate. Shooter Jennings arranged deals for a clothing line, while also launching a renewed website, and started talks with different producers about the making of a biographical film.
Busted
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cotton is down to a quarter a pound. and I'm busted
I got a cow that's gone dry and a hen that won't lay
A big stack of bills gettin' bigger each day.
The county will haul my belongings away, 'cause I'm busted
I went to see my brother, gonna ask him for a loan, I was busted
I hate to beg like a dog for a bone, but I'm busted
Wife and the kids they're all down with the flu
I was just thinking about calling on you, 'cause I'm busted.
I ain't no thief but a man can go wrong, when he's busted
The food that we canned last summer is gone, and I'm busted
Well, the fields are all bare and the cotton won't grow
Me and my family gotta pack up and go
I'll make a living but where I don't know, I'm just busted.
In Waylon Jennings's classic country song "Busted," the lyrics describe a man who is struggling financially and on the brink of losing everything he has. He talks about his bills being due and the baby needing shoes, but he doesn't have the money to pay for them. The value of cotton has decreased, and his cow and hen have stopped producing. He is left with a stack of bills that only continue to grow, and the county is threatening to seize his belongings. He goes to visit his brother for a loan but is turned down due to his family being ill. The singer acknowledges that he is not a thief but finds himself in a desperate position, as the food they canned last summer is gone, and they are left with nothing. He and his family must pack up and leave, not knowing where they'll go to make a living.
The song resonated with many people, especially those who lived through the Great Depression, as it portrayed the harsh realities of financial hardship and the painful decisions one must make during tough times. However, the lyrics of "Busted" also exemplify hope, determination, and perseverance. The singer acknowledges that he is "just busted," but he also vows to keep going and make a living somehow, even if he doesn't know how or where. This theme of resilience is a common thread throughout country music.
Line by Line Meaning
My bills are all due and the baby needs shoes. but I'm busted
I cannot pay my bills and even basic necessities for my child, like shoes, and I'm financially ruined.
Cotton is down to a quarter a pound. and I'm busted
Cotton prices have dropped significantly, causing me to lose a lot of money and struggle financially.
I got a cow that's gone dry and a hen that won't lay
My animals are not producing the expected or needed resources, leaving me without food and cash.
A big stack of bills gettin' bigger each day.
The amount of debt I owe is only increasing over time, creating an even larger financial burden.
The county will haul my belongings away, 'cause I'm busted
I'm so behind on my payments that I'm at risk of losing my belongings, and the county can legally seize them due to my financial situation.
I went to see my brother, gonna ask him for a loan, I was busted
I'm so desperate for money that I had to ask my family members for loans, but due to my poor finances, they turned me down.
I hate to beg like a dog for a bone, but I'm busted
As much as I hate to be in this desperate situation, I'm left with no choice but to beg for help.
My brother said there ain't one thing I can do
Even my close family members are unable to help me financially, showing how severe my situation is.
Wife and the kids they're all down with the flu
My family members are also suffering from illnesses, making it harder for us to recover financially.
I was just thinking about calling on you, 'cause I'm busted.
I had considered contacting other people, including the person I'm singing to, as I'm desperate for financial aid.
I ain't no thief but a man can go wrong, when he's busted
While I would never resort to theft, someone in dire financial straits like I am could easily fall into desperation and make bad choices.
The food that we canned last summer is gone, and I'm busted
Even the food resources that we had preserved from the previous season have depleted, leaving us with limited options for sustenance.
Well, the fields are all bare and the cotton won't grow
Even our farming crops are failing, leaving us with no means of making money or providing for ourselves.
Me and my family gotta pack up and go
As a result of my dire financial situation, my family and I have no choice but to leave our current home and livelihood behind.
I'll make a living but where I don't know, I'm just busted.
Although I have to leave everything behind, I am still hopeful that I can make a living elsewhere, but I'm unsure where to go or what opportunities await.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Harlan Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind