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.
Never Been to Spain
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
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Say the ladies are insane there and they sure know how to use it
They don't abuse it can't refuse it never gonna lose it
Well I've never been to England but I kinda like the Beatles
I was headed for Las Vegas I only made it out to Needles
But can't you feel it you must believe it cause it feels so good
People tell me I was born there Lord I really don't remember
In Oklahoma or Arizona what does it matter
Well I've never been to Spain...
The lyrics of Waylon Jennings’s song, “Never Been to Spain” are essentially about a man’s confession of having never been to several places, but liking the aspects and things that he has heard about them. He admits to never having been to Spain, but he loves the music and thinks that the women in Spain are crazy and really know how to enjoy themselves. He believes that nobody can deny how good the music is and they can never forget it. The lyrics continue with him stating that he has never been to England but enjoys the Beatles’ music. The character admits that he was on his way to Las Vegas but only made it to Needles, California. Nevertheless, he asks the listeners, “can't you feel it…cause it feels so good”.
As the song proceeds, the character confesses that he has never been to heaven, but he has been to Oklahoma. He claims that people tell him he was born in Oklahoma, but has no memories of it. He then mentions Arizona and claims that it does not matter which of the places he came from since he is enjoying himself. This song has an upbeat tune and it is evident from the lyrics that the song is about a man who is just enjoying the present moment and does not need to have everything figured out. The song is also about how good music can be a uniting force that brings different cultures together.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've never been to Spain but I kinda like the music
Although I've never visited Spain, I enjoy listening to Spanish music.
Say the ladies are insane there and they sure know how to use it
Rumor has it that Spanish women are wild and they know how to have a good time.
They don't abuse it can't refuse it never gonna lose it
They don't overdo it, can't resist it, and they will always have a good time (with their music).
I was headed for Las Vegas I only made it out to Needles
I was on my way to Las Vegas, but I only reached the town of Needles, which is near the border between California and Arizona.
But can't you feel it you must believe it cause it feels so good
Although I didn't get to go to Vegas, I can feel the excitement and fun just by being near it.
People tell me I was born there Lord I really don't remember
I've been told that I was born in Oklahoma, but I don't recall it with much clarity.
In Oklahoma or Arizona what does it matter
Whether I was born in Oklahoma or Arizona isn't all that important - it's the memories and experiences that count.
Well I've never been to Spain...
The song comes back to the chorus, where the singer reiterates the fact that he has never been to Spain.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Hoyt Wayne Axton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind