OldiesButGoodies

Country

Waylon Jennings – “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way”

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Introduction:

In the mid-1970s, country music was undergoing a significant transformation. The glossy, mainstream sound that had dominated the charts for decades was beginning to feel stale, and a new generation of artists was emerging, eager to challenge the status quo. One of the most influential figures in this movement was Waylon Jennings, whose iconic song, “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” became a rallying cry for those seeking a return to the roots of country music.

Released in 1975 as the lead single from Jennings’ album Dreaming My Dreams, “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” was a direct response to the commercialization of country music. The song’s lyrics express Jennings’ frustration with the rhinestone-studded suits, slick production, and formulaic songwriting that had become prevalent in the genre. Instead, he yearns for a return to the stripped-down, honest sound that had characterized the music of Hank Williams, one of the most influential figures in country music history.

The song’s title is a rhetorical question that serves as a challenge to the current state of country music. Jennings suggests that the polished, mainstream artists of the time are straying too far from the authentic, heartfelt music that Williams had made famous. The lyrics also reference the “new shiny cars” and “big city lights” that symbolize the superficiality of the contemporary country music scene.

“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” was a massive success, reaching number one on the Billboard Country Singles chart. It quickly became an anthem for those who were disillusioned with the direction of country music. The song’s popularity helped to launch the “outlaw country” movement, which championed a return to the genre’s roots and rejected the commercialism of Nashville’s mainstream. Jennings, along with fellow outlaws Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson, became synonymous with this movement and helped to redefine country music for generations to come.

“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” remains a timeless classic that continues to resonate with country music fans today. Its powerful message about authenticity and the importance of staying true to one’s roots has made it a beloved anthem for those who appreciate the raw, emotional power of country music.

Video:

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Merle Haggard’s childhood was becoming increasingly chaotic when something entered his life that would eventually change everything: a guitar. His older brother Lowell gave him one when Merle was around 12. Merle began teaching himself, absorbing the records and styles of country heroes such as Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell and Hank Williams. There were no expensive lessons preparing him for Nashville. There was simply a troubled California kid listening closely and learning how another man’s sadness could live inside a melody. Merle would still make plenty of mistakes. Music didn’t instantly rescue him from running away, juvenile detention or eventually prison. But the guitar remained. Years later, millions would recognize Merle’s voice within seconds. Perhaps that’s because he wasn’t merely learning how to sing songs as a boy. He was slowly learning how to tell the truth about his own life.

Merle Haggard rarely needed to invent heartbreak. He had known it since childhood. In 1946, when Merle was only nine years old, his father, James Haggard, died following a stroke. For a boy who deeply needed his father’s presence, the loss became a turning point. His mother, Flossie, worked to support the family. Merle, meanwhile, became increasingly restless. He skipped school, ran away, got into trouble, and began a long journey through juvenile institutions that eventually led somewhere far darker. Looking back at his life, it is difficult not to see that nine-year-old boy behind many of the adult Merle Haggard’s songs. People later called him a rebel, an outlaw and a survivor. But before any of those labels existed, there was simply a grieving boy who had lost his dad—and never seemed to completely outrun that loss.

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