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.
thanks
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
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Emily Jane would run to meet me she'd smile at papa kinda nervous
All the people came from miles around I can still hear the sound
As they sang thanks to the Lord for the sun up in the sky
For the corn that's growing high and for the child that didn't die
Thanks to the Lord for the crops and for the farm
For the strength in my right arm and for keepin' us from harm
Thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks to the Lord for a girl like Emily Jane
Came the day that we were married all our folks from the congregation
Emily Jane was like an angel the sweetest thing in all creation
Papa hugged me and my mama cried everybody smiled with pride
As they sang thanks to the Lord
for the sun up in the sky, for the love in our hearts that can never die, thanks to the Lord for the crops and for the farm, for the strength in our right arm and for keepin' us from harm, thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks to the Lord for a girl like Emily Jane.
The lyrics of "Thanks" by Waylon Jennings paint a picture of a Sunday morning in a valley, where people gather for the service. Emily Jane, the singer's love interest, is described as running to meet him, smiling nervously in the presence of her father. The people came from miles around to sing their thanks to the Lord for the blessings in their lives, including the sun, the crops, and their children.
The song then transitions to the day when the singer and Emily Jane get married. The congregation is present to witness the union, and there is a sense of pride and joy in the air. The people again sing thanks to the Lord for the love between the couple, the farm, and the strength that keeps them from harm. The song ends with the main character expressing his gratitude for Emily Jane.
Overall, the lyrics of "Thanks" convey a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the simple things in life. Waylon Jennings' voice provides a soothing and nurturing backdrop as he recounts these personal stories in a relatable way.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunday morning in the valley we would gather for the service
The community would come together every Sunday in the valley for religious services
Emily Jane would run to meet me she'd smile at papa kinda nervous
Emily Jane would eagerly run to meet the singer and would be nervous around his father
All the people came from miles around I can still hear the sound
People would travel long distances to attend the service and he can still hear their voices
As they sang thanks to the Lord for the sun up in the sky
The congregation sang in praise and gratitude for the sun in the sky
For the corn that's growing high and for the child that didn't die
They expressed gratitude for the corn growing and for the life of a child who might have been close to death
Thanks to the Lord for the crops and for the farm
They thanked God for the crops and the farmland
For the strength in my right arm and for keepin' us from harm
They expressed gratitude to God for their physical strength and for protecting them from danger
Thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks to the Lord for a girl like Emily Jane
The singer thanked God multiple times for the blessing of having a girl like Emily Jane in his life
Came the day that we were married all our folks from the congregation
On the day of their wedding, both of their families from the church were present
Emily Jane was like an angel the sweetest thing in all creation
The singer expressed how Emily Jane was the sweetest person in his life who seemed like an angel
Papa hugged me and my mama cried everybody smiled with pride
The singer's father hugged him and his mother cried, while the people around them smiled with pride
As they sang thanks to the Lord
During the wedding ceremony, everyone sang in praise and gratitude to God for the union
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PHIL COULTER, BILL MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind