The “outlaw” country music hero Waylon Jennings, with his unvarnished devotion to classic country sounds, raw voice, and defiant spirit, had a profound impact on the genre.
His 1975 hitting song “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” was not only a chart-topping single but also a heartfelt tribute to the pioneer Hank Williams Sr., who founded country music as we know it today.
In addition to honoring Williams’ impact, Jennings condemns the commercialization that initially began to permeate into the genre in the 1970s with this song.
A Humble Beginning and a Deep Connection
The early days of Waylon Jennings’ musical career were detached from Nashville’s bright lights.
The rich musical tradition of the Southwest governs him from the time of his 1937 birth in Littlefield, Texas.
Initial musical references for him included gospel quartets and the honky-tonk sounds featured in neighborhood dance halls.
But Jennings found that Hank Williams’ music appealed to him the most. He was pulled in by the honest feelings and storyline weaved into each tune of Williams’ songs when he listened to them on the radio.
Williams’ challenges with affection, grief, and working-class living matched Jennings’s own, creating a strong bond that ultimately defined his artistic path.
Jennings’s regard for Williams went beyond simple affection. He carefully reviewed Williams’ guitar playing and composition skills in an attempt to pick up ideas from his idol.
While Jennings established a distinctive style, Williams’ impact was unmistakable in his work.
The focus on common challenges, the straightforward yet poignant lyrics, and the meek vocals all remembered Hank Williams Sr.’s distinct approach.
But Jennings wasn’t just duplicating; he was keeping the custom alive, making sure that Williams’ unadulterated honesty and profound compassion persisted in country music.
The Story of “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way”
Waylon Jennings had carved out a name as an artist in the country music scene by the 1970s.
However, his dissatisfaction with Nashville’s music culture only increased.
In his opinion, the genre walked away from its beginnings and toward a more shiny, pop-oriented tone in an attempt to reach more listeners.
According to Jennings, this smooth sound had no trace of the rawness and sincerity that characterized traditional country music, notably Hank Williams’s songs.
This outrage gave rise to the song “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way”
“They say Hank Williams wrote a song / ‘Bout a heartache and a honky-tonk,” is the primary lyric of the song that refers to one of Williams’ well-known topics.
But then circumstances get rather strange in the next few lines: “But I don’t remember him singin’ ’bout no limousine / Ridin’ in the back.”
This is a blatant poke at the lavish lives that some country artists were directing, which stand in opposition to the sufferings of ordinary people that often appear in classic country songs.
The song keeps critiquing the industry’s emphasis on look-over content, raising questions over whether the well-produced songs and rhinestone costumes captured the true spirit of the genre.
The Lyrical Rebellion of “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way”
The first line of “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” highlights the conflict between heritage and materialism.
The phrase “Lord, it’s the same old tune, fiddle and guitar” brings up the renowned sound of antique country music, which Jennings loved.
But the sentence that follows, “How do we take it from here? “Rhinestone suits and new shiny cars,” sets up the genre’s alarming trend toward a more artificial and flashy image.
The primary topic of the song is the disparity between the straightforward, honest music of the past and the pretentious appearance of the present.
The song’s best-known line, the chorus, asks critical questions about the path that the industry is going on.
It goes, “Are you sure Hank did it this way? / I don’t think Hank done it this way.” The continuous probing illustrates Jennings’ doubts about the advancements he saw.
He doesn’t think a leader Hank Williams, who was well-known for his difficult life and grounded style, would have agreed with the shallowness that was infiltrating country music.
In sharp opposition to the sense of privilege connected with some modern musicians, lines like “Ten years on the road, makin’ one-night stands / Speedin’ my young life away” portray a devoted musician who sticks to his trade.
Jennings shows a longing for the unvarnished honesty that defined Hank Williams’ music across the song.
Williams’ songs about “heartache and a honky-tonk,” an idea very different from the refined pop-tinged country that has become more and more popular, were mentioned by him.
Lyrical passages such as “Lord, I’ve seen the world with a five-piece band / Lookin’ at the back side of me” highlight Jennings’ sense of disconnection.
Old country music was characterized by deeper storytelling and emotional fragility; these qualities are contrasted with the emphasis on performing and the indifferent nature of large groups.
“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” is a call to action as well as an analysis of the industry.
Jennings quietly promotes a comeback to country music’s beginnings by challenging the genre’s current trajectory.
“Take it off,” the last sentence, might be taken as an encouragement to remove the unnecessary elements and uncover the true spirit of the genre.
The song turned became a song for the emerging “outlaw country” movement, a collection of musicians who opposed the Nashville mainstream and championed indigenous sounds, eventually contributing to the upkeep of Hank Williams Sr.’s legacy.
Chart-Topping Success
The song’s effect extended beyond its cultural importance. The song “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” was a huge international hit.
It spent sixteen weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs list. It peaked at number one for one week.
The victory proved that classic country music maintained a loyal following, something the Nashville elite failed to deny.
The song’s success influenced Jennings’s career growth and cemented his place as an iconic figure in country music.
The Impact of “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way”
Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” which was released in 1975 as the lead single for Jennings’ album “Dreaming My Dreams,” touched a deep chord with fans of country music who recognized his displeasure with the trajectory that the genre was taking.
“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” had an influence Report Phrase that went above the song’s beginnings.
It acted as a spark for the “outlaw country” movement, a collection of artists who supported ancient sounds and opposed the current system.
Supporting Jennings in this protest were musicians such as Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash, who helped in preserving Hank Williams Sr.’s legacy in country music.
The song continues to have a mark on music today, as performers like Jamey Johnson and Sturgill Simpson keep fighting for a more unadulterated and basic approach to the genre.
Conclusion
- “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” by Waylon Jennings was a tune that protested.
- Jennings, unhappy with the way country music was developing, wrote a harsh but passionate homage to Hank Williams Sr., condemning the trend of commercialization in the genre.
- The song became an anthem for the “outlaw country” trend because it spoke to listeners who were longing for honesty.
- “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” made an indelible mark and was a great commercial success.
- It preserved Jennings’ culture and promoted vintage sounds while making sure Hank Williams’ impact would always be a vital element of what made country music what it is.
- The song still inspires musicians today and serves as a reminder of the key values of the genre.