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.
Change My Mind
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
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Put your arms 'round me, woman, and change my mind
If I ever seem too restless or dissatisfied
Put your arms 'round me, woman, and change my mind
Don't let me separate your love from mine
Don't let me leave you, I might get the urge some time
If I do, you'll know what to do to keep me by your side
If the gay life of the barrooms beckons me at night
Put your arms 'round me, baby, and change my mind
And if a new love ever tempts me that I should search to find
Put your arms 'round me, woman, and change my mind
Put your arms 'round me, woman, and change my mind
The lyrics to Waylon Jennings’s “Change My Mind” express a sense of doubt and vulnerability on the part of the singer. He acknowledges that he may feel the need to stray from his partner at various points in their relationship, but he also recognizes that he doesn't want to lose her love. The repeated refrain, "Put your arms 'round me, woman, and change my mind," reveals his desperation for her to anchor him and prevent him from straying. The singer emphasizes that he is giving his partner the power to "change his mind" and keep him from making a mistake that could damage their relationship.
This song is a testament to the power of love and the importance of having a supportive partner who can help keep us grounded when we feel lost or uncertain. Perhaps the most meaningful line in the song is "Don't let me separate your love from mine." This line speaks to the deeper emotional connection that the singer feels with his partner and suggests that he recognizes how much they have invested in their relationship. Ultimately, the song communicates a message of commitment and devotion: the pledge to stay together even in difficult times.
Overall, "Change My Mind" is a powerful expression of one person's heartfelt desire to stay true to his partner, even when he is tempted to stray. The song's emotional honesty and vulnerability have made it a classic of the country music genre.
Line by Line Meaning
If I should get a look of leavin' in my eyes
If I seem like I'm thinking of leaving, please hold me and convince me to stay.
Put your arms 'round me, woman, and change my mind
Hold me tight and show me your love, so I can be convinced to stay with you.
If I ever seem too restless or dissatisfied
If I appear like I'm not content with our relationship, please try to make me feel loved so I don't leave.
Don't let me separate your love from mine
Please don't let me ruin our relationship and make you feel unloved.
Don't let me leave you, I might get the urge some time
Don't let me leave you because I may get the urge to do so at any time.
If I do, you'll know what to do to keep me by your side
If I do leave, please know what to do to convince me to come back and stay.
Put your arms 'round me, baby, and change my mind
Hold me tight and show me your love, so I can be convinced to stay with you.
If the gay life of the barrooms beckons me at night
If I am tempted to go out to bars and live a wild life, please convince me to stay at home with you.
And if a new love ever tempts me that I should search to find
If I am tempted to find a new love, please show me your love and convince me to stay with you.
Put your arms 'round me, woman, and change my mind
Hold me tight and show me your love, so I can be convinced to stay with you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HEATHER LYNN MORGAN, SUSAN BROWN, BOBBY PINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind