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Waylon Jennings Quotes

Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing guitar at eight and began performing at 14 on KVOW radio. His first band was The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a DJ on KVOW, KDAV, KYTI, and KLLL. In 1958, Buddy Holly arranged Jennings's first recording session, of "Jole Blon" and "When Sin Stops ". Holly hired him to play bass. In Clear Lake, Iowa, Jennings gave up his seat on the ill-fated flight that crashed and killed Holly, J. P. Richardson, Ritchie Valens, and pilot Roger Peterson.

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 joined the 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 white 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 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.

✵ 15. June 1937 – 13. February 2002
Waylon Jennings photo
Waylon Jennings: 13   quotes 3   likes

Famous Waylon Jennings Quotes

“Waylon said it best when he sang to Willy; 'If you see me gettin' smaller, I'm leavin' don't be grievin', just gotta get away from here. If you see me gettin' smaller, don't worry, I'm in no hurry I've got the right to disappear.”

Waylon Jennings

“Just some good ol' boys,
Never meaning no harm.
Beats all you never saw
Been in trouble with the law
Since the day they were born.”

Waylon Jennings

Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys), from Music Man (1979).
Song lyrics

“Let the world call me a fool,
But if things are right with me and you,
That's all that matters.
And I'll do anything you asked me to.”

Waylon Jennings

You Asked Me To, from Honky Tonk Heroes, written with Billy Joe Shaver (1973).
Song lyrics

“She's a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man.
She loves him in spite of his ways she don't understand.
With teardrops & laughter they pass through this world hand in hand,
A good hearted woman, lovin' a good timin' man.”

Waylon Jennings

Good Hearted Woman, title track from Good Hearted Woman, written with Willie Nelson (1972).
Song lyrics

Waylon Jennings Quotes

“It's the same old tune, fiddle and guitar.
Where do we take it from here?
Rhinestone suits and new shiny cars;
We've been the same way for years.
We need to change.”

Waylon Jennings

Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way, from Dreaming My Dreams (1975).
Song lyrics

Cars , Way , Change

“Don't you think this outlaw bit has done got out of hand?
What started out to be a joke, the law don't understand.
Was it singing through my nose that got me busted by the man?
Maybe this here outlaw bit has done got out of hand.”

Waylon Jennings

Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand, from I've Always Been Crazy (1978).
Song lyrics

Law , Understanding , Thinking , Singing

“They oughtta give me the Wurlitzer Prize
For all the silver I let slide down the slot.
Playin' those songs sung blue
That help me remember you.
I don't wanna get over you.”

Waylon Jennings

The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want to Get Over You) (1977).
Song lyrics

Help

“Oh rainy day woman,
I've never seem to see you for the good times or the sunshine.
You have been a friend of mine, rainy day woman.”

Waylon Jennings

Rainy Day Woman, from The Ramblin' Man (1974).
Song lyrics

Time

“I've always been crazy and the trouble that it's put me through;
I've been busted for things that I did, and I didn't do.
I can't say I’m proud of all of the things that I’ve done,
But I can say I’ve never intentionally hurt anyone.”

Waylon Jennings

I've Always Been Crazy, title track from I've Always Been Crazy (1978).
Song lyrics

Hurt

“Someone's gonna get hurt before you're through.
Someone's gonna pay for the things you do.
How many hearts must break, how many will it take?
To satisfy you, just to satisfy you?”

Waylon Jennings

Just to Satisfy You, title track from Just to Satisfy You, written with Don Bowman (1969).
Song lyrics

Heart , Hurt

“This time if you want me to come back, it's up to you.
But remember I won't allow the things you used to do.
You're gonna have to toe the mark and walk the line;
This time will be the last time.”

Waylon Jennings

This Time, title track from This Time (1974).
Song lyrics

Time

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