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.
Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never meanin' no harm
Beats all you never saw
Been in trouble with the law
Since the day they was born
Staightenin' the curves (yeah)
Flattenin' the hills
But the law never will
Makin' their way
The only way they know how
That's just a little bit more
Than the law will allow
Makin' their way
The only way they know how (yeah)
That's just a little bit more
Than the law will allow
I'm a good ol' boy
You know my mama loves me
But she don't understand
They keep a showin' my hands
And not my face on TV
The lyrics of Waylon Jennings's "Theme from the Dukes of Hazzard" recount the story of two rebellious brothers, Bo and Luke Duke, who constantly find themselves in trouble with the law. However, they are never intending to harm anyone and are always determined to evade capture by the authorities. The song also highlights the Duke boys' relentless pursuit of justice and their willingness to risk their lives in order to stop corruption and maintain order in their community.
In the first verse, the "just the good ol' boys" phrase is directed towards Bo and Luke, who have been mischievous all their life. The line "beats all you never saw" implies the unexpectedness of their actions, which continue to baffle those around them. The second verse talks about how the Duke boys are never held accountable for their actions, despite the authorities' repeated attempts to catch them. The lyric, "Someday the mountain might get 'em, but the law never will" suggests that the Duke brothers can outwit the law every time, but they may not be so lucky at times.
In the following verses, the song talks about how the Duke brothers use their driving skills to flee from the law, without causing any harm to others, and how they always manage to succeed in any situation. The last verse, delivered by Waylon himself, is a nod to the fans of the show who love and admire the characters of Bo and Luke Duke, but are often frustrated with the fact that the actors who play them are not given enough screen time.
Line by Line Meaning
Just the good ol' boys
We are just regular guys
Never meanin' no harm
We don't want to hurt anyone, just have fun
Beats all you never saw
Our adventures are unbelievable
Been in trouble with the law
We have had some run-ins with the police
Since the day they was born
We have always been a little wild
Staightenin' the curves
We can handle any obstacle in our way
Flattenin' the hills
We can take on any challenge
Someday the mountain might get 'em
We know that one day we may face a challenge that might be too much for us
But the law never will
We can always outsmart the police
Makin' their way
We are always on the move
The only way they know how
We do things our way
That's just a little bit more
We push the limits a bit
Than the law will allow
We like to have fun, even if it means breaking a few rules
I'm a good ol' boy
I am just a regular guy
You know my momma loves me
My mother cares for me deeply
But she don't understand
She doesn't get why I do the things I do
They keep a showin' my hands
The media always focuses on the bad things I have done
And not my face on TV
They never show the good things I have done
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Waylon Jennings
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ManTheBell
Just the good ol' boys
Never meanin' no harm.
Beats all you never saw
Been in trouble with the law
Since the day they was born
Staightnin' the curves
Flatnin' the hills
Someday the mountain might get 'em
But the law never will
Makin' their way
The only way they know how
That's just a little bit more
Than the law will allow.
Makin' their way
The only way they know how
That's just a little bit more
Than the law will allow.
I'm a good ol' boy
You know my momma loves me
But she don't understand
They keep a showin my hands and not my face on TV
OH YEA
@jacobking1131
I'm part black and I still love the south. The show never promoted slavery, just the confederate flag which stood for the way of the south (not slavery).
@coltsrule5150
This flag represents a group of people who fought to keep people as property, namely black people.
If you have been brainwashed into believing the civil war was about anything other than the right to keep black people as slaves, you should really go read each states declaration of secession, where the states, themselves, make it very clear why they were leaving the union. Because they wanted to keep blacks as slaves and in their won words.
Fuck this flag.
@DoctorKandosii
I'm British and I loved this show as a kid.
@austinfrazier7325
As a child growing up in the South in the 80s this was required watching.
@GeorgeVreelandHill
Back then, there were so many great shows on the air.
A great time to live.
Today, we have the Kardashians.
No thanks.
@BenJones113
It's all about what you choose to surround yourself by...
We also have True Detective, Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and Breaking Bad today so...
Try skipping the passed E! channel.
@circesoul2218
Agree with miles Davis(breaking bad and GoT are two of the best shows ever on TV) plus we have all the old TV shows we can watch. Honestly we have the best of both worlds and we can watch them on giant ass TVs!
@stevenking2980
After this it was DALLAS! Damned Jr and Bobby and Suellen!!!
@GESSO217
Angela Kidd Yeah, those shows are good but the whole family can't sit and watch it unlike Dukes of Hazzard. Then again, do families even do that these days?
@tylerdeppeler7050
Miles Davis dont forget better call saul!