Waylon Arnold Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American … Read Full Bio ↴Waylon Arnold Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing guitar at eight and began performing at 14 on KVOW radio. His first band was The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a DJ on KVOW, KDAV, KYTI, and KLLL. In 1958, Buddy Holly arranged Jennings's first recording session, of "Jole Blon" and "When Sin Stops (Love Begins)". Holly hired him to play bass. In Clear Lake, Iowa, the story is told that Jennings gave up his seat on the ill-fated flight in 1959 that crashed and killed Holly, J. P. Richardson, Ritchie Valens, and pilot Roger Peterson.

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.

Sally Was a Good Old Girl
Waylon Jennings Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sally used to carry my books to school
Sally was a good ole girl
Helped me with my homework 'cause I was a fool
'Cause Sally was a good ole girl.

If you wanted just a kiss or a little bitty squeeze
She was always willing to do her best to please
Yeah, girls were made to love and not made to tease

Sally was a good ole girl.

Yeah, Sally was a good ole girl
Sally was a good ole girl
No matter what the request
She gave it her best
Sally was a good ole girl.

Oh well, Sally's folks were poor but she helped all she could
Sally was a good ole girl
Hardest working girl in the neighborhood
Sally was a good ole girl.

Well, she walked up and down the street all day
Selling neck ties to the one's who'd pay
If they couldn't afford it then she'd give them away
'Cause Sally was a good ole girl.

Yeah, Sally was a good ole girl
Sally was a good ole girl
No matter what the request
She gave it her best
Sally was a good ole girl.

Well, Sally was a good ole girl
Sally was a good ole girl
No matter what the request
She gave it her best
Sally was a good ole girl.

Well, Sally was a favorite with all of the men
'Cause Sally was a good ole girl
All of the ladies despised her then
'Cause Sally was a good ole girl.

Well, the women talked about her
but Sally didn't care
She kept on a workin' and a doin' her share
She wound up married to a millionaire
Sally was a good ole girl.

Yeah, Sally was a good ole girl
Sally was a good ole girl
No matter what the request
She gave it her best
Sally was a good ole girl.

Well, Sally was a good ole girl
Sally was a good ole girl
No matter what the request

She gave it her best
Sally was a good ole girl

Overall Meaning

The song "Sally Was a Good Old Girl" by Waylon Jennings tells the story of a girl named Sally who was kind and hardworking despite her poverty. The singer describes how Sally helped him with his schoolwork and was always willing to please others, whether it was with a kiss or giving away neckties. Despite being disliked by other women in the neighborhood, Sally did not let their opinions bring her down and continued to work hard. Eventually, Sally married a millionaire.

The lyrics of this song celebrate the virtues of Sally's character, particularly her kindheartedness and work ethic. The singer portrays her as someone who is always willing to help others and who does not let the opinions of others dictate her actions. The song also touches on the theme of social class and how it can impact one's life.

One interesting fact about this song is that it was co-written by Bobby Bare, who also recorded his own version of it. Additionally, "Sally Was a Good Old Girl" was featured in the 1968 film "Waco" starring Howard Keel and Jane Russell. Another interesting fact is that this song is considered one of Jennings' early hits and helped establish him as a prominent figure in the outlaw country music scene.

Chords:
Verse: G C G D
Chorus: G C G D G

Line by Line Meaning

Sally used to carry my books to school
Sally was always there to lend a helping hand, even at a young age.

Sally was a good ole girl
Sally was a kind-hearted and friendly person who was well-liked by everyone.

Helped me with my homework 'cause I was a fool
Sally was patient and understanding, and willing to help out even when others might not have been.

'Cause Sally was a good ole girl.
Sally's character was defined by her kindness and generosity.

If you wanted just a kiss or a little bitty squeeze
Sally was not judgmental and always willing to show affection and attention.

She was always willing to do her best to please
Sally was always looking for ways to make others happy and comfortable.

Yeah, girls were made to love and not made to tease
Sally believed in the importance of showing love and kindness to everyone.

Oh well, Sally's folks were poor but she helped all she could
Sally was empathetic towards those who were struggling and always tried to help in any way she could.

Hardest working girl in the neighborhood
Sally was known for her tireless work ethic and dedication to her community.

Well, she walked up and down the street all day
Sally wasn't afraid of hard work and was willing to put in the effort needed to make a living.

Selling neck ties to the one's who'd pay
Sally was resourceful and entrepreneurial, always looking for ways to make a little extra money.

If they couldn't afford it then she'd give them away
Sally was generous and always willing to help those in need, even if it meant giving away her merchandise.

Well, Sally was a good ole girl
Sally's kindness and generosity made her a beloved figure in her community.

Well, Sally's a favorite with all of the men
Sally was popular with men, likely due to her friendly and flirtatious nature.

'Cause Sally was a good ole girl
Despite being the center of attention, Sally's character remained true to her kind and generous nature.

All of the ladies despised her then
Sally's popularity with men likely caused jealousy and resentment among other women in the community.

Well, the women talked about her but Sally didn't care
Sally was secure in herself and her values, and didn't let gossip or rumors bother her.

She kept on a workin' and a doin' her share
Sally remained dedicated to her work and her community despite criticism from others.

She wound up married to a millionaire
Sally's kindness and work ethic ultimately paid off, as she was able to find financial stability and security by marrying a wealthy man.

No matter what the request, she gave it her best
Sally was known for her dedication and commitment to helping others, even going above and beyond to meet their needs.

Sally was a good ole girl
Sally's legacy was defined by her kindness, generosity, and tireless work ethic, making her a beloved figure in her community.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HARLAN HOWARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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