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.
I'm Coming Home
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Water in the milk from the hole in the roof
Where the rain came through
What can you do? Hmm
Tears from little sister cryin’
‘Cause she doesn’t have a dress without a patch
For the party to go
She is livin’ in the love of the common people
Smiles from the heart of the family man
Daddy’s gonna buy her a dream to cling to
Mama’s gonna love her just as much as she can, she can
It’s a good thing you don’t have the bus fare
It would fall through the hole in your pocket
And you’d lose it in the snow on the ground
A walking to town to find a job
Trying to keep your hands warm
But the hole in your shoe let the snow come through
And it chills to the bone, boy
You’d better go home where it’s warm
Where you can live in the love of the common people
Smiles from the heart of the family man
Daddy’s gonna buy her a dream to cling to
Mama’s gonna love her just as much as she can, she can
Livin’ on dreams ain’t easy
But the closer the knit, the tighter the fit
And the chills stay away
You take ‘em in stride family pride
You know that faith is your foundation
And with a whole lotta love and a warm conversation
And plenty of prayer
Making you strong where you belong
Where you can live in the love of the common people
Smiles from the heart of the family man
Daddy’s gonna buy her a dream to cling to
Mama’s gonna love her just as much as she can, she can
The opening lines of Waylon Jennings's song "I'm Coming Home" paint a vivid picture of a dire situation. The singer is living in abject poverty, surviving on free food and tickets, and the water in the milk is tainted due to a hole in the roof. Despite these hardships, the singer remains stoic and resigned to their fate, asking "what can you do?" The next verse describes the singer's little sister, who is upset because she can't attend a party without a dress that doesn't have a patch. Again, despite the difficulties, the singer is confident that she will make do. These opening verses describe a world of poverty and hardship, where even basic needs like food and clothing are difficult to come by.
However, in the chorus, there is a shift in tone. The singer sings about living in the love of the common people, and the joy and strength that comes from being part of a close-knit community. The family man's smile and Mama's love are powerful forces that sustain the singer, and even in the face of adversity, there is hope. The final verse speaks to the importance of faith and family pride, and the power of prayer to make one feel strong and supported.
Overall, "I'm Coming Home" is a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Although the singer's situation is bleak, there is a palpable sense of hope and resilience that comes from being part of a community, and having the love and support of family and faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Livin’ on free food, tickets
Living in poverty and having to rely on free food and tickets. Financial struggles are apparent.
Water in the milk from the hole in the roof
The living conditions are poor, with the roof leaking and affecting the food and drinks.
Where the rain came through
Further emphasizing the leaky roof and poor living conditions.
Tears from little sister cryin’
A sad scene where the younger sister is crying due to not having a dress without patches for a party.
‘Cause she doesn’t have a dress without a patch
The younger sister lacks the money to get a new dress for the party, resulting in the tears.
For the party to go
The party is the event that the younger sister aims to attend.
Oh, but you know she’ll get by
Despite the lack of resources, the younger sister will still try to attend the party and make the best of it.
She is livin’ in the love of the common people
The family finds happiness in the love they have for each other rather than material wealth.
Smiles from the heart of the family man
The father of the family brings joy and happiness with his presence and love.
Daddy’s gonna buy her a dream to cling to
Despite the financial struggles, the father will still try to provide a better future for his children.
Mama’s gonna love her just as much as she can, she can
The mother will do her best to love and support her children despite the hardships.
It’s a good thing you don’t have the bus fare
Not having the bus fare may be fortunate, as there is a risk of losing it in the bad weather.
It would fall through the hole in your pocket
The risk of losing money due to a hole in the pocket is highlighted.
And you’d lose it in the snow on the ground
Further emphasizing the risk of losing the bus fare and money in the snow.
A walking to town to find a job
Seeking employment by walking to town due to not having the money for transportation.
Trying to keep your hands warm
Struggling to keep warm in the cold weather due to lack of proper clothing or resources.
But the hole in your shoe let the snow come through
The lack of proper footwear is making it harder to keep warm and dry in the snow.
And it chills to the bone, boy
The cold weather and lack of resources is causing great discomfort and challenges.
You’d better go home where it’s warm
The best option is to return home where it is warmer and safer.
Livin’ on dreams ain’t easy
Despite the hardships, having dreams and aspirations is still a struggle.
But the closer the knit, the tighter the fit
The family is close and tight-knit providing support and comfort to each other.
And the chills stay away
The warmth and love between family members make the challenges easier to overcome.
You take ‘em in stride family pride
The struggles are taken in stride due to the pride and love the family has for each other.
You know that faith is your foundation
The family finds meaning and hope through their faith, which serves as their foundation.
And with a whole lotta love and a warm conversation
The family supports each other through love and talking to each other despite the hardships.
And plenty of prayer
Prayer is a way for the family to come together and find hope and strength during difficult times.
Making you strong where you belong
The family helps each other stay strong during tough times and supports each other where they belong.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OTIS REDDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind