Waylon & Willie Go Back To The Basics With 'Luckenbach, Texas' Duet

May 31, 2020 by apost team

One of Willie Nelson's best friends was Waylon Jennings, best known for his relatable songs about life and relationships. His outlaw persona is shown off most obviously in songs like "Mama Tried." Together with Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, Waylon and Willie Nelson were known as country music outlaws.

Jennings often adopted the persona of a hard-living, law-breaking man. In the late 1970s, however, Jennings was maturing a little bit. He started to release music that was a little more reflective. Some of his songs celebrated a much more simple life than the one he was actually living. One of them was "Luckenbach, Texas."

The lyrics to "Luckenbach, Texas," reflect a weariness about the grind of industry. In the song, the rat race of the high-powered business world is putting a heavy strain on a couple's marriage. They are fighting all the time. In fact, their relationship is compared to the legendary feud between the Hatfields and McCoys. They can tell they're losing the healthy emotional center of their lives. Something has to change.

Finally frustrated, they discuss selling everything down to their jewelry and packing up to move to a simpler home. In Gillespie County, they'll be able to wear jeans and do simple, necessary work. Luckenbach, Texas, is a real place. It's a very small town, with a year-round population of fewer than ten people. The Outlaw Country singers of the 1960s and 1970s often recorded there and it's still known for venues like the dance hall in town.

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"Luckenbach, Texas" is so identified with Waylon Jennings that many people don't realize he didn't write the song. In fact, long-time country songwriters Bobby Emmons and Chips Moman are the composers of the song. They actually name-checked Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson in the lyrics. At the time, everyone in the music industry knew that Luckenbach was an area where they often worked in Texas.

In fact, when Waylon Jennings recorded the song, he had his old Outlaw Country pal help him out. Willie Nelson can be heard on the final verse of the song. Of course, they couldn't always perform live together. Many times, they were headlining separate tours in different cities.

Even now, Willie Nelson continues to include the song in his set annually. It has an enduring appeal, and besides, it drops his name.

Are you a fan of these two legends? How do you like this classic tune? Tell us below, and send this along to any music lovers!