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.
Waltz Across Texas
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a fairyland tale that's come true
When you look at me girl with those stars in your eyes
I could waltz across Texas with you
Waltz across Texas with you in my arms
Waltz across Texas with you
Like a storybook ending I'm lost in your charms
And I could waltz across Texas with you
My heartaches and troubles are just up and gone
The moment you come into view
With your hand in mine dear I could dance on and on
And waltz across Texas with you
Waltz across Texas with you in my arms
The lyrics to "Waltz Across Texas" describe the magical feeling that the singer experiences when he dances with his partner. The singer is transported into a fairy tale world where all his troubles disappear, and his heart is filled with love and joy. He is lost in the charm of his partner, and every time he looks into her starry eyes, he feels like he can do anything, even waltz across Texas.
The singer's love and admiration for his partner are evident in the way he speaks about her. She is the light that brightens his world, and he cherishes every moment he spends with her. The waltz is a beautiful dance that symbolizes the romance and elegance of the old western era. The singer wants to express his love for his partner through this dance, and he wants to waltz across Texas with her in his arms. The song is a classic example of how love can transport us to another world, where anything is possible.
Line by Line Meaning
When we dance together my world's in disguise
When we dance, I am able to escape my everyday life and become someone else entirely.
It's a fairyland tale that's come true
Our dance is like a dream come true.
When you look at me girl with those stars in your eyes
I feel like the center of your universe when you look at me with such admiration and love.
I could waltz across Texas with you
I feel so happy and alive when I'm with you that I could do anything, even dance across Texas with you.
Waltz across Texas with you in my arms
The thought of holding you close while we dance fills me with joy.
Like a storybook ending I'm lost in your charms
Being with you feels like the happy ending of a wonderful story.
And I could waltz across Texas with you
I love you so much that I would do anything to be with you, even dance across Texas.
My heartaches and troubles are just up and gone
When I'm with you, all of my worries and problems disappear.
The moment you come into view
I feel so much better as soon as I see you.
With your hand in mine dear I could dance on and on
Holding your hand makes me feel invincible and like I could dance forever.
And waltz across Texas with you
I cherish the thought of spending time with you and dancing together, no matter where we are.
Lyrics © ERNEST TUBB MUSIC, INC.
Written by: Talmadge Tubb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind