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.
Jambalaya
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou
My Yvonne the sweetest one me oh my oh
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and file gumbo
Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
Thibodaux Fontaineaux the place is buzzin'
Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Dress in style and go hog wild me oh my oh
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
Settle down far from town get me a pirogue
And I'll catch all the fish in the bayou
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie
Later on, swap my mon, get me a pirogue
And I'll catch all the fish on the bayou
Swap my mon, to buy Yvonne what she need-oh
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie
The song "Jambalaya" by Waylon Jennings is a fun and upbeat tune about a man named Joe who is bidding farewell to his beloved Yvonne to go on a trip down the bayou. Joe is excited to have fun and enjoy Louisiana's famous dishes such as jambalaya, crawfish pie, and file gumbo. He plans to play his guitar, fill the fruit jar, and be merry. Throughout the song, Joe's excitement is palpable - he emphasizes his anticipation by repeating "me oh my oh" and "son of a gun."
The lyrics of Jambalaya paint a colorful picture of a lively and festive atmosphere. The upbeat melody and distinct twang in Jennings's voice are reminiscent of traditional country music. However, the song's heavy use of accordion and fiddles pay homage to the buzzing Cajun culture of Louisiana, specifically, the city of Lafayette. Overall, "Jambalaya" is a song about living in the moment and seeking out adventure – something many of us can relate to and enjoy.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodbye Joe me gotta go me oh my oh
Farewell Joe, I have to leave. My, oh my!
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou
I must go push my boat through the swamp.
My Yvonne the sweetest one me oh my oh
My Yvonne is the most pleasant, my, oh my!
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
We'll surely have great pleasure in the swamp.
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and file gumbo
We'll eat seafood, sausage, and rice among friends.
Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Tonight I'll meet with my dear friend.
Pick guitar fill fruit jar and be gay-o
I'll play guitar, drink, and have a good time.
Thibodaux Fontaineaux the place is buzzin'
The city of Thibodaux Fontaineaux is lively.
Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Yvonne's family is here in numbers to visit.
Dress in style and go hog wild me oh my oh
We'll wear our finest clothes and party heartily.
Settle down far from town get me a pirogue
I'll live quietly in the countryside with my boat.
And I'll catch all the fish in the bayou
I'll fish and catch many aquatic animals.
Later on, swap my mon, get me a pirogue
I'll exchange money and obtain a boat later.
And I'll catch all the fish on the bayou
I'll fish and catch many aquatic animals.
Swap my mon, to buy Yvonne what she need-oh
I'll trade money to buy what Yvonne needs.
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
We'll surely have great pleasure in the swamp.
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie
We'll eat seafood, sausage, and rice.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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