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.
Sweet Music Man
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause I won't be there to hold your hand like I used to
I'm through with you
You're a hell of a singer and powerful man
But you surround yourself with people who demand so little of you
You touched my soul with your beautiful song
Even had me singin' along right with you you said I need you
Then you changed the words and added harmony
Nobody sings love songs quite like you do nobody else can make me sing along
Nobody else can make me feel the things are right when I know they're wrong
Nobody sings love songs quite like you
Sing your song sweet music man
Travel the world with a six piece band that does for you
What you ask me to
And you try to stay young but the songs are sung
To so many people who've all begun came back on you
Sing your song sad music man makin' your living doing one night stands
They're through with you they don't need you
You're still a hell of a singer but a broken man
But you'll keep on lookin' for one last fan to sing to
Nobody sings a love song quite like you do nobody else can make me sing along
Nobody else can make me feel the things are right
When they're wrong with a song
Nobody sings a love song quite like you
She said sing your song sweet music man I believe in you
The song "Sweet Music Man" by Waylon Jennings is about an unsuccessful relationship between a woman and a musician who had a special place in her heart. The woman tells the music man that she needs him to sing a song for her because she is no longer there to hold his hand. She loves his voice and acknowledges that he is a powerful man, but she feels like he doesn't demand enough of himself. When he sings his love songs, nobody else can make the woman sing along or feel the way she does, but he changed the words of a song he had written for her to sing it to someone new, which broke her heart.
The woman tells him to keep singing his song and traveling the world with his six-piece band that does for him what she once did. However, she warns that one day he will not have the same charm he has now, and people will grow tired of him. She wants him to know that nobody else can sing love songs quite like him, and that's why she still believes in him. This song talks about the pressure of being a successful musician and the feeling of loneliness when someone you love is no longer present.
Line by Line Meaning
She said sing a song sweet music man
She asked him to sing her a song, addressing him as 'sweet music man'
Cause I won't be there to hold your hand like I used to
She won't be there with him like she used to, as she is done with him
I'm through with you
She is finished with him
You're a hell of a singer and powerful man
He is a great singer and influential man
But you surround yourself with people who demand so little of you
The people he associates with don't challenge him enough
You touched my soul with your beautiful song
His song moved her emotionally
Even had me singin' along right with you you said I need you
She was so touched by his song that she felt like she needed him
Then you changed the words and added harmony
He altered the song he had written for her and added more elements to it
Sang the song you had written for me to someone new
He sang the modified song he had written for her to another person
Nobody sings love songs quite like you do nobody else can make me sing along
He is exceptional in his ability to create love songs that move people to sing along with him
Nobody else can make me feel the things are right when I know they're wrong
Even when she knows things are wrong, his song can make her feel like they're right
Nobody sings love songs quite like you
He is unparalleled in his capacity to create love songs
Sing your song sweet music man
She advises him to continue creating his music
Travel the world with a six piece band that does for you
She suggests that he should travel the world with a band that performs as he desires
What you ask me to
The band should fulfill the singer's requirements
And you try to stay young but the songs are sung
He attempts to stay youthful, but his songs are performed by many individuals
To so many people who've all begun came back on you
So many people have performed his songs that it's become difficult to associate them with him
Sing your song sad music man makin' your living doing one night stands
She asks him to continue performing his music, even though he may be making a living performing one-night shows and may be feeling sad
They're through with you they don't need you
His audience is done listening to him and doesn't need him anymore
You're still a hell of a singer but a broken man
Although he's still an incredible singer, he is now broken
But you'll keep on lookin' for one last fan to sing to
He'll keep looking for one last person to appreciate and perform his music
Nobody sings a love song quite like you do nobody else can make me sing along
He is matchless in producing love songs that can make her sing along with him
Nobody else can make me feel the things are right when they're wrong with a song
Even if she knows things are wrong, his song can make her feel like they're right
Nobody sings a love song quite like you
He is unsurpassed in his ability to create love songs
She said sing your song sweet music man I believe in you
She tells him to continue performing his music, as she believes in him
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kenny Rogers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kayte 0207
Kenny Rogers actually wrote this song about Waylon Jennings after having a conversation with Waylon’s wife, Jessi Colter. Jessi did not know how to handle Waylon’s severe cocaine addiction. Kenny wrote these lyrics after talking to Jessi. Thankfully, in 1984, Waylon quit his severe cocaine addiction “cold turkey” with only Jessi by his side. The last 18 years of their 33 year marriage were happy and settled ones, except for Waylon’s heart surgery in 1989, and the onset of his diabetes which required his foot to be amputated. In 1994, Waylon surprised Jessi with a 25th wedding anniversary vow renewal. He even secretly picked out her dress. Only their children and a couple of very close friends were present, including Connie Smith, who sang. In his autobiography, Waylon said that he was scared to death that Jessi might say no, even though they had already been married for 25 years. In 1996, Waylon was presented with the CMA Living Legend award. He brought Jessi onstage and gave the award to her, saying that if it wasn’t for her love and support he would not have lived long enough to accept it. Rest In Peace To Two Sweet Music Men - Waylon Jennings who passed away in 2002 while taking a nap at his home, and Kenny Rogers, who passed away yesterday.
Kayte 0207
@Dennis Roote I am happy that you enjoyed the story behind Kenny’s hit song “Sweet Music Man”. I was really surprised when I saw Kenny in concert in 2012, and he told the audience how he had written this song about Waylon - who has always been another of my favorite singers.
Dennis Roote
Thanks for the story about the song's origin. I knew Kenny Rogers was a gifted writer and musician, and the story adds a dimension to these 3 people.
Kayte 0207
@David Roga You are very welcome. I always thought that this story was so interesting, and that others would like to hear it. Thanks for commenting…
Kayte 0207
@Diane Lindberg Very true. I often wonder if Waylon knew that the song was about him when he covered it.
David Roga
Never knew WJ history like this. Thanks.
chuck chapman
This is true country music! Waylon is a legend!
Roy Elsworth
waylon Jennings was the narrator for the dukes of Hazzards
Alexanderjohn Campbell
Legend in my books growing up listening to all is music
terri cochrane
Heart and soul is waylon and i wish to have the chance to sit down and talk with jesie an waymore in person good people 4 shure how about that idear folks mike cochrane resptectfuley