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.
Just For You
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's what you get for lovin' me
Everything we had is gone if you can see
That's what you get for lovin' me
Don't you shed a tear for me
I ain't the love you thought I'd be
I've had a hundred just like you, but don't be blue
That's what you get for lovin' me
That's what you get for lovin' me
Everything we had is gone if you can see
That's what you get for lovin' me
There you go you're cryin' again
You should have known how things would end
But someday when your poor heart is on the mend
I just might pass this way again
That's what you get for lovin' me
That's what you get for lovin' me
Everything we had is gone if you can see
That's what you get for lovin' me
That's what you get for lovin' me
The lyrics to "Are You Ready For The Country" by Waylon Jennings reflect a rebellious attitude towards societal expectations and rules. The line "Slippin' and a slidin' playin' Dominos leftin' and a rightin' ain't a crime you know" suggests that the singer is engaging in activities that may be frowned upon by authority figures, but are not necessarily harmful. The song goes on to question the motives of both a preacher and a butcher, implying that even those in positions of authority may have ulterior motives or be dishonest.
The phrase "Are you ready for the country" is repeated several times throughout the song, suggesting a desire for freedom and an escape from the constraints of city life. The line "Talkin' to a preacher said God was on his side" could be interpreted as a critique of religious hypocrisy, as the singer questions whether the preacher truly has a moral high ground. Overall, the lyrics of the song convey a sense of defiance and a rejection of conformity.
Line by Line Meaning
Slippin' and a slidin' playin' Dominos leftin' and a rightin' ain't a crime you know
Engaging in harmless fun such as playing Dominos and dancing is not illegal
Well I gotta tell the story before it's time to go
I need to share my experiences before I depart
Are you ready for the country are you ready for me
Are you prepared for rural life and my presence in it
Are you ready for the country ain't that a sight to see
Isn't the countryside an incredible view to behold
Talkin' to a preacher said God was on his side
Having a conversation with a preacher who claimed God was on his side
Talkin' to a butcher they both were sellin' hides
Conversing with a butcher who, like the preacher, was merely trying to make a profit
Well I gotta tell the story boys I don't know the reason why
I need to recount an event even though I am unsure of the rationale behind it
Are you ready for the country
Are you prepared for life in rural America
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gordon Lightfoot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind