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.
Revelation
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he said I must be seeing things that bourbon hit me like a baseball bat
In Belfast Ireland a little lady dropped her shovel in her garden
She raced across the yard and ask her neighbor Mrs Clancy what was that
In Memphis Tennessee a teacher raised the window closest the river
And the children in her classroom swore they'd heard a choir singing down the street
In Washington DC a private secretary's lips began to quiver
And the President just put aside his papers and rose quickly to his feet
When a loud explosion rocked the room and turned the morning into night
I jumped out of bed and ran into the street with hardly any clothes on
As the sky lit up my heart stood still and I could feel my face was turnin' white
All at once the clouds rolled back and there stood Jesus Christ in all his glory
And I realized the saddest eyes I'd ever seen were lookin' straight at me
I guess I was awakened by the penetrating sounds of my own screamin'
And it didn't take me long to stumble out of bed and fall down on my knees
As tears rolled down my face I cried dear God I'm thankful I was only dreamin'
And if I never go to hell Lord it'll be because you scared it out of me
Waylon Jennings's song Revelation depicts a series of chaotic events taking place in various parts of the world, from a soldier witnessing something peculiar in Vietnam to a teacher hearing a choir in Memphis, from Belfast to Washington DC, the world seems to be experiencing a sense of confusion and turmoil. The lyrics likely touch on the sociopolitical climate of the 70s, a time when there were wars being fought, civil unrest, and leaders being assassinated. The song ends with the singer having a dream where he sees Jesus Christ, and He stares at the singer with sad eyes. The dream causes the singer to wake up in terror, realizing the gravity of the situations depicted in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere in Vietnam a 19-year-old soldier walked out of a barroom
A young soldier, who was drinking in a barroom in Vietnam, walked outside.
And he said I must be seeing things that bourbon hit me like a baseball bat
The soldier felt disoriented due to the impact of the bourbon on him.
In Belfast Ireland a little lady dropped her shovel in her garden
A woman gardening in Belfast, Ireland heard a loud noise and stopped her work.
She raced across the yard and ask her neighbor Mrs Clancy what was that
The woman hurried to her neighbor's house and asked Mrs. Clancy what caused the noise.
In Memphis Tennessee a teacher raised the window closest the river
A teacher in Memphis, Tennessee opened a window that faced the river.
And the children in her classroom swore they'd heard a choir singing down the street
The school children heard a choir singing loudly on the street near their classroom.
In Washington DC a private secretary's lips began to quiver
A private secretary in Washington D.C. started trembling with fear.
And the President just put aside his papers and rose quickly to his feet
The President of the United States abruptly stopped working and got up from his chair.
I lay in a cheap motel in the arms of someone else's woman
The artist was in a motel with someone else's lover.
When a loud explosion rocked the room and turned the morning into night
Suddenly, there was a loud explosion that made the room dark as night.
I jumped out of bed and ran into the street with hardly any clothes on
The singer quickly ran out of bed and into the street wearing only a few clothes.
As the sky lit up my heart stood still and I could feel my face was turnin' white
The artist was struck with fear when they saw the sky light up.
All at once the clouds rolled back and there stood Jesus Christ in all his glory
Suddenly, the clouds parted and Jesus Christ appeared in all his splendor.
And I realized the saddest eyes I'd ever seen were lookin' straight at me
The singer had a realization that Jesus looked very sad when he was looking directly at him.
I guess I was awakened by the penetrating sounds of my own screamin'
The singer was woken up by the loud sound of his own screaming.
And it didn't take me long to stumble out of bed and fall down on my knees
The artist got out of bed quickly and fell down on his knees.
As tears rolled down my face I cried dear God I'm thankful I was only dreamin'
As the artist cried, he thanked God that what he experienced was just a dream.
And if I never go to hell Lord it'll be because you scared it out of me
The singer believes that if he is saved from going to hell, it will be because of his terrifying experience in his dream.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARCUS MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@almaduplessis8127
Well did everyone who do not believe in God & his power knows Why we all talks in different languages
??????
Science say we comes from the Monkeys
We may have Monkeys brains 🧠 when it comes to human natures,lol
But Monkies still in 2021 can not speaks
let alone one language.
Why then,
Creatures of all sorts some more smarts then others but do not speaks
Ever heard hearing about the Babel Tour?
Not Eiffel Tower,NO BETHEL TOUR
@charlenewebb1802
I have loved this song since the first day I heard it. It brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it. Jesus sad eye's is so true when he looks around himself. I thank God for Jesus begin in my life every day. Stay safe everyone and have a wonderful Easter weekend, keep your eyes and heart on the LORD
@pattyshekell450
I can't believe there are that many people who didn't like this song you must be godless people. Rip. Waylon
@jaredclawson1813
Still have this on vinyl, strangely the only Waylon album my dad had his although he was a big fan. Used to put this on the turntable with another stack of records and shoot pool all night. Was blessed to grow up in the 70s and 80s without T.V. This song used to freaking scare the tar out of me. Now days I appreciate the music, wisdom and the way Waylon worked his voice and emotions, it's so believable when he sang like this. Miss him and my Dad both. The boys on the Great Navajo Nation will never let Waylon be gone or forgotten.
@chrisablott946
Every now and then I have to listen to that song You're so beautiful. That's Why
Waylon is Waylon And he's singing about a beautiful subject christ jesus🙏🙏🙏💯
@bobbyecrockett1710
Chills! Soul piercing delivery! Waylon: the best!
@ladygeena81
Absolutely flawless.
@anelladambrosio2513
@@ladygeena81 il migliore...😍😘🎶🎸🎶💘❤️💕💯💯💯💯💯
@wesleygraham2741
Been a Waylon fan since the 60s I introduced his music to anyone who would listen
@eddienoonan2868
This is Waylon's acknowledgement of his Savior. Whatever belief you ascribe to, even an agnostic, this is a very powerful song of revelation.
@lindadarling731
I loved this song. It was a really good song with a story. The ending made me smile…..❤️