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.
Walkin'
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
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I stand with my back to the wall
Walkin' is better than runnin' away
And crawlin' ain't no good at all.
If guilty's the question, truth is the answer
I've been lyin' to me all alone
There ain't nothin' worth savin' except one another
'Cause after carefully considerin' the whole situation
And I stand with my back to the wall
Walkin' is better than runnin' away
And crawlin' ain't no good at all.
Mm, mhm, walkin' is better than runnin' away
And crawlin' ain't no good at all
The lyrics to Waylon Jennings's "Walkin'" are about facing difficult situations and choosing to confront them instead of running away or ignoring the truth. The singer acknowledges that he has been lying to himself, but realizes that there is nothing more important than saving his relationship with his partner. He chooses to take responsibility and face the consequences of his actions, even if it means leaving.
The line, "If guilty's the question, truth is the answer," speaks to the importance of honesty and accountability. The singer recognizes that he has made mistakes and must be truthful with himself and his partner in order to move forward.
The refrain "Walkin' is better than runnin' away, and crawlin' ain't no good at all" emphasizes the idea of facing challenges head-on, rather than avoiding or succumbing to them. Walking represents a determined and deliberate approach, while crawling represents a hopeless and defeated mentality.
Overall, the lyrics encourage listeners to take ownership of their actions and relationships, and to face difficult situations with courage and honesty.
Line by Line Meaning
After carefully considerin' the whole situation
After carefully examining and analyzing the entire situation
I stand with my back to the wall
I am in a difficult or dangerous position with few options
Walkin' is better than runnin' away
Facing the problem and dealing with it is better than avoiding it completely
And crawlin' ain't no good at all.
Trying to handle the situation in a humiliating or submissive way won't bring a good outcome
If guilty's the question, truth is the answer
If the question is about who is guilty, the only answer is the truth
I've been lyin' to me all alone
I have been deceiving myself for a long time
There ain't nothin' worth savin' except one another
The most valuable thing to save is the relationship between people
And before you'll wake up I'll be gone.
I will leave before you realize it
'Cause after carefully considerin' the whole situation
Because I have taken the time to carefully analyze the whole situation
Mm, mhm, walkin' is better than runnin' away
It is better to confront a problem with confidence than to flee from it in fear
And crawlin' ain't no good at all
It is better to stand up for oneself and face the situation with dignity rather than submitting to humiliation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLIE NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind