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.
Luckenbach Texas
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' women
I don't need my name in the marquee lights
I got my song and I got you with me tonight
Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love
Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs and
Newbury's train songs and "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain"
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, ain't nobody feelin' no pain
So baby, let's sell your diamond ring
Buy some boots and faded jeans and go away
This coat and tie is choking me
In your high society, you cry all day
We've been so busy keepin' up with the Jones
Four car garage and we're still building on
Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love
Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we're livin' got us feudin'
Like the Hatfield and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs and
Newbury's train songs and "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain"
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, ain't nobody feelin' no pain
Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
Willie and Waylon and the boys
This successful life we're livin's got us feudin'
Like the Hatfield and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs
And Jerry Jeff's train songs and "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain"
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, there ain't nobody feelin' no pain
The song "Luckenbach Texas" by Waylon Jennings talks about going back to the basics of love, with guitars that tune good and firm feeling women. The singer doesn't care about fame and fortune; he has his song and his partner with him. The song suggests that in order to escape the stress and superficiality of city living, we need to go back to a simpler time and place.
Jennings mentions going to a place called Luckenbach, Texas, where there is a sense of peace and freedom. There, nobody is feeling any pain, and everyone is just enjoying the good life. The song also references legendary musicians like Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, and Jerry Jeff Walker, who have all contributed to the country music canon. These musicians represent a time when country music was more authentic, and not yet influenced by the music industry.
Overall, "Luckenbach Texas" speaks to the desire for simplicity and authenticity in life. It suggests that sometimes the best things in life are the ones that are the most basic and essential.
Line by Line Meaning
The only two things in life that make it worth livin'
The singer believes that only guitars that tune good and firm feeling women are important in life.
Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' women
The singer believes that good guitars and emotionally stable women are the only things worth having in life.
I don't need my name in the marquee lights
The singer isn't interested in fame and fortune.
I got my song and I got you with me tonight
The artist values the company of his partner and the joy of making music together.
Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love
The artist thinks it's important to focus on the simple things in life, like love.
Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
The singer wants to go to Luckenbach, Texas.
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
The singer wants to go to Luckenbach, Texas with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and their friends.
This successful life we're livin'
The artist is living a successful life.
Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys
The success of the artist's life has caused conflict between him and others.
Between Hank Williams' pain songs and
The artist sings country music and is influenced by Hank Williams' and Mickey Newbury's music.
Newbury's train songs and 'Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain'
The singer is influenced by Mickey Newbury's train songs, as well as the song 'Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain'.
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, ain't nobody feelin' no pain
The artist believes that in Luckenbach, Texas, there is no pain.
So baby, let's sell your diamond ring
The singer suggests that they sell their expensive possessions, like a diamond ring, to fund a trip to Texas.
Buy some boots and faded jeans and go away
The singer suggests that they buy practical clothing, like boots and faded jeans, so they can go on a trip.
This coat and tie is choking me
The singer is uncomfortable and feels trapped by formal clothing.
In your high society, you cry all day
The artist suggests that his partner is unhappy because of their high-class lifestyle.
We've been so busy keepin' up with the Jones
The artist suggests that they have been too busy trying to keep up with their wealthy neighbors.
Four car garage and we're still building on
The singer suggests that they have a lot of property and are continuing to accumulate even more.
Willie and Waylon and the boys
The singer wants to go to Luckenbach, Texas with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and their friends.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bobby Emmons, Chips Moman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jasonmurawski5877
The only two things in life that make it worth livin'
Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' women
I don't need my name in the marquee lights
I got my song and I got you with me tonight
Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love
Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we're livin'
Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs and
Newbury's train songs and "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain"
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, ain't nobody feelin' no pain
So baby, let's sell your diamond ring
Buy some boots and faded jeans and go away
This coat and tie is choking me
In your high society, you cry all day
We've been so busy keepin' up with the Jones
Four car garage and we're still building on
Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love
Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we're livin' got us feudin'
Like the Hatfield and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs and
Newbury's train songs and "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain"
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, ain't nobody feelin' no pain
Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
Willie and Waylon and the boys
This successful life we're livin's got us feudin'
Like the Hatfield and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs
And Jerry Jeff's train songs and "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain"
@citybillyrecordsPDX
"The only two things in life worth livin
Is guitars tuned good
And firm feeling women"
And
"These two things you should take pride
Thats a horsey
And a woman, yeah
Both of them you ride"
Have the same exact energy
@samcoon6699
Was never really a big country music fan but this song has always been magical. Reminds me of a much simpler time when everyone seemed happier.
@hotpocket5501
And family get togethers and the smell of campfire smoke
@nickinportland
Sounds like you are a fan of real country music friend.
@Matt-lp8de
You dont even have to like country music to like this song. Such a great song
@gilesfamily2653
What a great natural voice Waylon had. Unlike the auto tuned garbage passing itself off as music now.
@homerogarcoa6870
Totally agree with you on that.
@homerogarcoa6870
Completely agree with you. 👍🏻
@alexcantu331
You know I thought the same.
@PolsgroveProductions
Absolutely. I’m a guitar player and singer, this stuff is a lot more fulfilling to play than the fake crap on the radio today.
@karenmartin4221
He was an amazing talent.💜