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.
Jole Blon
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woman, let me sing you a song
That tells how you’ve done me wrong , so it’s your fault if it’s long
Woman let me sing you a song
Well, the neighbors all say, I run around
Yeah, the neighbors all say, I run around
But baby, if I do, I’m still miles in back off you
You tell our friends I drink too much
Now the whole town knows I drink too much
But the reason why I drink is a thought you make to think
Woman let me sing you a song
Woman, let me sing you a song
Woman, let me sing you a song
I said, I’d die for you and I have the time or two
Woman let me sing you a song
Now, woman, I’ve done sang you my song
The lyrics to Waylon Jennings’s song Jole Blon describe a man who is pleading with his lover to listen to his side of the story. He begins by asking for permission to sing a song that tells how she has done him wrong. Despite the fact that others in the neighborhood are spreading rumors about him being unfaithful, he claims he is loyal to her. He accuses her of spreading lies about him drinking too much, which he claims he only does because of the stress caused by her behavior. It’s clear that the man is hurt and feels wronged by his lover, but he asserts that he would still do anything for her.
This song is an incredibly powerful expression of the frustrations and heartache that can arise in a romantic relationship. The man’s desperation to be heard and understood by his lover is palpable in every line. He is trying to hold onto their relationship, but his lover’s behavior has made it nearly impossible. In the end, it is up to her to decide if she will truly listen to him and if they can salvage what’s left of their love.
Line by Line Meaning
Woman, let me sing you a song
The singer wants to express his feelings to the woman through a song
That tells how you’ve done me wrong, so it’s your fault if it’s long
The singer believes that the woman is responsible for the length of the song because of the wrongs she has done to him
Well, the neighbors all say, I run around
The neighbors accuse the singer of cheating on the woman
But baby, if I do, I’m still miles in back off you
Even if the artist cheats, he is still devoted to the woman and behind her in love
You tell our friends I drink too much
The woman tells their mutual friends that the artist drinks excessively
Now the whole town knows I drink too much
The singer's excessive drinking has become public knowledge
But the reason why I drink is a thought you make to think
The woman's actions and behavior make the singer turn to drinking
I said, I’d die for you and I have the time or two
The artist has made drastic declarations of love for the woman and has nearly died for her
Now, woman, I’ve done sang you my song
The artist has finished expressing his thoughts and feelings to the woman through the song
Lyrics © GLAD MUSIC CO.
Written by: BUDDY DEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind