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.
Conversation
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me how your mama loved that man
Well, just break out a bottle, hoss
I'll tell you bout the driftin' cowboy band
We won't talk about the habits
Just the music and the man, that's all
Did your daddy really write all them songs, did he
That don't deserve no answer, hoss
Let's light up and just move along
Do you think he wrote 'em about your mama
Or about the man who done her wrong, you know that
Yeah, back then they called him crazy
Nowadays they call him a saint
Now the ones that called him crazy
Are still ridin' on his name
Well, if he was here right now, Bocephus
Would he think that we were right, do you think he might
Don't you know he would Watasha
Be right here by our side
If we left for a show in Provo
He'd be the first one on the bus and ready to ride
Wherever he is I hope he's happy
You know I hope he's doin' well, yes I do
He is 'cause he's got one arm around my mama now
And he sure did love Miss Audrey and raisin' hell
I won't ask you no more questions
To the stories only Hank could tell
Back then they called him crazy
Nowadays they call him a saint
Most folks don't know that they fired him from the Opry
And that caused his greatest pain
I loved to tell you about lovesick
How Miss Audrey loved that man
You know I've always loved to listen
To the stories about that driftin' cowboy band and the man
You know when we get right down to it
Still the most wanted outlaw in the land, yeah, woh
The lyrics to Waylon Jennings' song "Conversation" are an exchange between Waylon and Hank about Hank's father, the legendary country singer-songwriter, Hank Williams Sr. They begin by discussing how Hank's mother loved his father and Waylon asks about his father's famed ability to write songs. However, they both decide to focus on the music and not the man's habits. They go on to discuss the legacy of Hank Williams Sr. and his impact on country music. Despite being labelled crazy during his lifetime, he is now regarded as a saint and the most wanted outlaw in the land.
The lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era of country music and the artists who helped to shape the genre. The conversation between Waylon and Hank highlights the enduring power of the music and the influence of Hank Williams Sr. on subsequent generations of musicians. The song speaks to the deep respect and admiration that many musicians have for those who came before them, and the importance of honoring their legacy.
Overall, "Conversation" is a poignant reflection on the enduring influence of the pioneers of country music and the legacy that they have left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Hank, let's talk about your daddy
Let's discuss the father of Hank to know more about him.
Tell me how your mama loved that man
Explain how Hank's mother had affection for his father.
Well, just break out a bottle, hoss
Let's open a bottle of alcohol and relax.
I'll tell you bout the driftin' cowboy band
I will discuss the mobile group of cowboys who travel from place to place.
We won't talk about the habits
Let's not discuss the negative behaviors of the father.
Just the music and the man, that's all
Let's converse only about the father's music and personality.
Now Hank, you just got to tell me
Now, Hank, please reveal something to me.
Did your daddy really write all them songs, did he
Did Hank's father genuinely compose those songs?
That don't deserve no answer, hoss
I won't answer that question, buddy.
Let's light up and just move along
Let's smoke some weed and move on from this topic.
Do you think he wrote 'em about your mama
Do you believe he composed those songs about Hank's mother?
Or about the man who done her wrong, you know that
Or did he compose them pertaining to the person who betrayed her, as you know?
Yeah, back then they called him crazy
He was deemed insane back in those times.
Nowadays they call him a saint
People nowadays venerate him like a saint.
Now the ones that called him crazy
Those who branded him as a madman earlier.
Are still ridin' on his name
Are still benefiting from his fame and reputation.
Well, if he was here right now, Bocephus
If he were present with us, Bocephus.
Would he think that we were right, do you think he might
Would he agree with us? Do you reckon?
Don't you know he would Watasha
Don't you understand that he definitely would, Watasha?
Be right here by our side
He would be standing beside us.
If we left for a show in Provo
If we departed for a performance in Provo.
He'd be the first one on the bus and ready to ride
He would be the first person to board the bus and eager to leave.
Wherever he is I hope he's happy
I hope the father is happy, wherever he might be.
You know I hope he's doin' well, yes I do
You know, I desire him to be doing great.
He is 'cause he's got one arm around my mama now
He is doing well because he is embracing my mother at this moment.
And he sure did love Miss Audrey and raisin' hell
He undoubtedly adored Miss Audrey and enjoyed having fun.
I won't ask you no more questions
I will not pose any more questions to you.
To the stories only Hank could tell
I'll limit myself to the tales that only Hank knows.
Most folks don't know that they fired him from the Opry
Many individuals don't know that he was terminated from the Opry.
And that caused his greatest pain
And that was the primary reason for his suffering.
I loved to tell you about lovesick
I enjoyed discussing lovesick with you.
How Miss Audrey loved that man
How Miss Audrey had strong romantic feelings for that man.
You know I've always loved to listen
You know, I have always enjoyed listening to these kinds of stories.
To the stories about that driftin' cowboy band and the man
I like to hear the narratives about the mobile group of cowboys and the man.
You know when we get right down to it
When we come to the point of the matter.
Still the most wanted outlaw in the land, yeah, woh
He is still the most sought-after fugitive of the country, yeah.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN WILLIAMS, JOHN T. WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James reid
Idc care how many times I’ve heard it I always get chills when I hear Waylon say “Hank lets talk about your daddy”
Steven Andrew Callicott Jr.
I feel you same here Salute To Real Country.
Jo Ann Hawkins
And the look on Waylon's face waiting for the response
Andrew sutherland
My daddy is still with me every time I light up an move along
Bobby Ricigliano
These two men forgot more about being cool than most performers could ever hope to know. Legends.
Charlie Lohr
Better believe that
J D
Come on now, you can't forget Johnny.
Bobby Ricigliano
@J D Of course not. But Johnny was not affiliated with this particular performance.
Joe Giardina
Just, outstanding 👏👏👏👏🥇🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
brandenc246
This song is so great. I love hank Sr, Jr and Waylon. Gotta come back and listen every so often. Classic song.