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.
Money
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But your thirst for riches is more than my pockets can stand
And I know that you're dreaming of things you could have with another
Cause to your way of thinking the money is what makes the man
You like to be seen in the richest and finest of places
You're always embarrassed by the callouses here on my hands
And I know that it's only a matter of time till you leave me
Cause to your way of thinking the money is what makes the man
But if you're still lonely then darling you may understand
That with all of his gold he can't give you the love that I gave you
For a man can make money but money cannot make the man
[ guitar ]
You may find a rich man...
A man can make money but money cannot make the man
The lyrics to Waylon Jennings' "Money" present a heart wrenching and relatable story about a relationship that is falling apart due to differing priorities. The singer of the song has been trying to provide their significant other with everything they desire, but it seems as though the other person's obsession with money is driving them apart. The singer acknowledges that their partner's desire for financial stability is understandable, but it has become unrealistic and is causing a rift between them. The other person prefers luxuries, expensive things, and does not take shame in the fact that they are driven by financial gain. There may be a point where the partner truly realizes that money cannot buy everything, and especially not the love that the singer has provided.
Line by Line Meaning
So long I've been trying to give you the things that you've wanted
I have been striving for a long time to provide you with everything you desire.
But your thirst for riches is more than my pockets can stand
However, your unquenched longing for wealth is too much for my limited resources.
And I know that you're dreaming of things you could have with another
I am aware that you fantasize about acquiring material possessions from another person.
Cause to your way of thinking the money is what makes the man
It's your belief that a person's worth is determined by their wealth.
You like to be seen in the richest and finest of places
You enjoy being observed in places that are opulent and luxurious.
You're always embarrassed by the callouses here on my hands
However, you feel ashamed of the roughness and coarseness of my hands.
And I know that it's only a matter of time till you leave me
I realize that it's just a matter of time before you abandon me.
Cause to your way of thinking the money is what makes the man
It's because you believe that a person's worth is determined by their wealth.
You may find a rich man to give you the things that you long for
Perhaps, you'll find a wealthy man who can provide you with all that you desire.
But if you're still lonely then darling you may understand
However, if you're still unhappy and unfulfilled, you may come to realize.
That with all of his gold he can't give you the love that I gave you
Even with all his wealth, he will be unable to give you the love that I provided.
For a man can make money but money cannot make the man
The ability to make money does not determine a person's worth or character.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind