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.
Good Hearted Woman
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the good life he promised ain't what she's living today
But she never complains of the bad times or bad things he's done, Lord
She just talks about the good times they've had and all the good times to come
She's a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man
She loves him in spite of his ways that she don't understand
Through teardrops and laughter they'll pass through this world hand in hand
He likes the night life and bright lights and good timin' friends
When the party's all over she'll welcome him back home again
Lord knows she don't understand him but she does the best that she can
'Cause she's a good hearted woman, she loves her good timin' man
She's a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man
And she loves him in spite of his wicked ways that she don't understand
Through teardrops and laughter they'll pass through this world hand in hand
A good hearted woman lovin' her good timin' man
She's a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man
She loves me in spite of my wicked ways that she don't understand
Through teardrops and laughter we'll pass through this world hand in hand, Lord
A good hearted woman lovin' her good timin' man
The lyrics to Waylon Jennings's song "Good Hearted Woman" describe a woman who is in love with a man who lives a fast-paced, party-filled lifestyle that she struggles to understand but still accepts and loves him wholeheartedly. The song talks about how the woman's dreams have fallen by the wayside and how the good life that the man promised her is not the one she is living today. Despite these setbacks, she never complains about the bad things that he has done and instead chooses to focus on the good times that they have had and those that she hopes they will continue to have.
The song is essentially a tribute to the woman's loyalty and love, despite the fact that her partner may not always understand or appreciate her. Jennings sings of her ability to look past his flaws and instead embrace the good in their relationship, even during difficult times. The lyrics are a testament to the strength of their bond and the idea that love can transcend even the most challenging of circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
A long time forgotten are dreams that just fell by the way
She gave up on her dreams a while ago
And the good life he promised ain't what she's living today
The life she's living now is not the life he promised her
But she never complains of the bad times or the bad things he's done
She never complains about his faults, mistakes, or wrongdoings
She just talks about the good times they've had and all the good times to come
She focuses on the good times and looks forward to more to come
She's a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man
She's a kind and loving woman who's in love with a man who enjoys partying and having a good time
And she loves him in spite of his ways that she don't understand
She loves him even though she doesn't understand his behavior
And through teardrops and laughter they'll pass through this world hand in hand
They'll face life together, through both happy and sad times
He likes the night life and bright lights and good timin' friends
He enjoys going out at night with friends who also like having a good time
And when the party's all over she'll welcome him back home again
She'll be waiting for him when he returns home from partying
Though she don't understand him but she does the best that she can
Even though she doesn't understand him completely, she still tries to do what she can for him
This good hearted woman in love with her good timin' man
She's a loving and kind-hearted woman who's in love with a man who likes to have fun and enjoy life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind