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.
Heroes
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
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Done, did everything that needs done
Woe is me, why can't I see?
I'd best be leaving well enough alone
Them neon light nights, couldn't stay out of fights
Keep a-haunting me in memories
Well there's one in every crowd for crying out loud
Where does it go? The good Lord only knows
Seems like it was just the other day
I was down at Green Gables, hawking them tables
And generally blowing all my hard-earned pay
Piano roll blues, danced holes in my shoes
There weren't another other way to be
For lovable losers, no account boozers
And honky tonk heroes like me (hey, hey)
Where does it go? The good Lord only knows
Seems like it was just the other day
I was down at Green Gables, hawking them tables
Generally blowing all of my hard-earned pay
Piano roll blues, danced holes in my shoes
There weren't another other way to be
For lovable losers and no account boozers
And honky tonk heroes like me
Where do it go? The good Lord only knows
And seemed like it was just the other day
I was down at Green Gables and hawking them tables
And generally blowing all of my hard-earned pay
Well, piano roll blues, danced holes in my shoes
There weren't another other way to be
For them lovable losers and no account boozers
And honky tonk heroes like me, yeah
The lyrics to Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson's "Heroes" reflect on the concept of childhood heroes and the realization that even the strongest of them will eventually fall. The song starts with a proud father who feels joy in his son's accomplishments, but he also admits to the pain of having to cancel plans with his son to go fishing. The father reminisces about his own childhood and how he used to watch his heroes rope and ride at the local picture show, and how watching them lose always made him feel sad. The song takes a somber turn when the father fails to catch fish, and the headlines about his own hero's death bring out a feeling of heartache and sadness. The song ends with the realization that there will soon be no heroes left.
The lyrics delve deeper into the concept of heroism and how it's perceived. Heroes are often viewed as larger-than-life figures that are unbreakable, but as the song suggests, even they are susceptible to failure and eventually death. It's a poignant reminder that we should admire people for their strengths, but also accept their weaknesses and flaws. It's a coming-of-age story that suggests growing up means realizing the fragility of our heroes and learning to accept that truth.
Line by Line Meaning
Son you make me feel so proud I pop the buttons off my shirt
You bring me so much joy that I can't contain my happiness, it makes me burst with pride.
I know I said I'd take you to the lake today
I promised to take you out to the lake, but something came up that prevents me from keeping that promise.
But I'm going to have to break those plans, and it really hurts
Unfortunately, I have to cancel our plans and it pains me to do so.
Every time I go fishin' it'd always start me wishin'
When I go fishing, I can't help but wish some of my youthful days back.
That I could be a child again
I'd love to experience my childhood days again.
Take my 50 cents and go down to the local picture show
I used to have 50 cents that I'd use to watch movies at the local cinema.
To watch my heroes rope and ride
In those movies, I would watch cowboys and other heroes rope and ride.
Most times they'd win but when they'd lose it always made me cry
Watching my heroes win used to make me happy, but seeing them lose would always make me sad.
Ain't nothing quite as sad as watching your heroes die
Nothing is as heart-wrenching as seeing your heroes die.
One by one as they fall soon there'll be no heroes at all
As my heroes die, one by one, soon there won't be any heroes left.
Well I guess the fish just ain't bitin' just as well I don't feel like fightin'
I suppose the fish aren't hungry, but I don't really want to catch anything today.
All in all it just ain't that great a fishin' day that old newspaper headline
Overall, today isn't a good day for fishing, like that old newspaper article said.
Kind of wrapped around this old heart of mine another big one got away
My heart feels heavy, it's like another big fish got away without me catching it.
And I can't count the times he's made me laugh
I can't remember how many times this hero of mine has made me laugh.
But this time he's made me cry
But this time, he's made me cry instead.
There ain't nothing quite as sad as watching your heroes die
Nothing is quite as heartbreaking as seeing your beloved heroes die.
One by one as they fall soon there'll be no heroes at all
As my heroes continue to pass away, soon there won't be heroes left to look up to.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Shaver
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind