Waylon Jennings - Greatest Hits Album Lyrics

Bessie was a lovely child from west Tennessee
Leroy was an outlaw wild as a mink
One day she saw him starin' and it chilled her to the bone
And she knew she had to see that look on a child of her own.

'Cause ladies love outlaws like babies love stray dogs
Ladies touch babies like a banker touches gold
And outlaws touch the ladies
Somewhere deep down in their soul.

Linda was a lady blonde and built to last
Benny was a no good guitar picker runnin' from his past
She heard all of his songs tellin' nothin' but bad news
But she made her mind up to try to get him win or lose.

Ladies love outlaws like babies love stray dogs
Ladies touch babies like a banker touches gold
And outlaws touch the ladies
Somewhere deep down in their soul.

Jessi like the Cadillacs and diamonds on her hands
Waymore had a reputation as a ladie's man
Late one night a light of love finally gave a sign
Jessi parked her Cadillac and took her place in line.

'Cause ladies love outlaws like babies love stray dogs
Ladies touch babies like a banker touches gold
And outlaws touch the ladies
Somewhere deep down in their soul.

Ladies love outlaws like babies love stray dogs
Ladies touch babies like a banker touches gold
And outlaws touch the ladies
Somewhere deep down in their soul...

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

I've always been different with one foot over the line
Winding up somewhere one step ahead or behind
It ain't been so easy but I guess I shouldn't complain
I've always been crazy but it's kept me from going insane

Beautiful lady are you sure that you understand
The chances your taking loving a free living man
Are you really sure you really want what you see
Be careful of something that's just what you want it to be

I've always been crazy but it's kept me from going insane
Nobody knows if it's something to bless or to blame
So far I ain't found a rhyme or a reason to change
I've always been crazy but it's kept me from going insane

I've been down the Mississippi,
Down through New Orleans,
Yes, I have.
I've played in California,

There ain't too much I haven't seen.
No, there ain't.
Well, I'm a ramblin' man,
Don't fool around with a ramblin' man.

Left a girl in West Virginia,
Up there where that green grass grows,
Yes, I did.
Another girl in Cincinnati,

Waitin' where the Ohio River flows,
Poor girl!
I'm a ramblin' man,
Don't give your heart to a ramblin' man.

You'd better move away,
You're standin' too close to the flame.
Once I mess with your mind,
Your little heart won't beat the same.
Lord, I'm a ramblin' man,

Don't mess around with any ol' ramblin' man.
Better not!
Well, up in Chicago,
I was known as "Quiet Boy,"

Yes, I was!
Down in Alabama,
They call me "The man of joy,"
Still do!

Well, I'm a ramblin' man,
Don't fall in love with a ramblin' man.
You'd better move away,
You're standin' too close to the flame.

Once I mess with your mind,
Your little heart won't beat the same.
Lord, I'm a ramblin' man,
Don't mess around with any ol' ramblin' man.

Everybody knows you've been steppin' on my toes
And I'm gettin' pretty tired of it
You keep a steppin' out of line
You're messin' with my mind
If you had any sense you'd quit

Bridge:
'Cause ever since you were a little bitty teeny girl
You said I was the only man in this whole world
Now you better do some thinkin' then you'll find
You got the only daddy that'll walk the line

I keep a workin' every day all you want to is play
I'm tired of stayin' out all night
I'm comin' unglued
From your funny little moods
Now Honey baby that ain't right

bridge
riff (2x)
solo
riff (2x)

You keep a packin' up my clothes nearly everybody knows
That you're still just a puttin' me on
But when I start a walkin'
Gonna hear you start a squawkin'
And beggin' me to come back home

bridge

You got the only daddy that'll walk the line

I've held it all inward, God knows, I've tried,
But it's an awful awakening in a country boy's life,
To look in the mirror in total surprise.
At the hair on my shoulders and the age in my eyes.

Amanda, light of my life.
Fate should have made you a gentleman's wife.
Amanda, light of my life.
Fate should have made you a gentleman's wife.

It's a measure of people who don't understand,
The pleasures of life in a hillbilly band.
I got my first guitar when I was fourteen,
Well I finally made forty, still wearing jeans.

Amanda, light of my life.
Fate should have made you a gentleman's wife.
Amanda, light of my life.
Fate should have made you a gentleman's wife.

Low down leavin' sun, i've done
Did everything that needs done
Woe is me, why can't i see
I'D best be leavin' well enough alone
Them neon lightin' nights, couldn't stay out of fights
Keep a-huantin' me in memories
Well, there's one in every crowd, for cryin' out loud
Why was it always turnin' out to be me

Where does it go, the good Lord only knows
It seems like it was just the other day
I was down at Green Gables, a hawkin' them tables
And generally blowin' all my hard earned pay
Piano roll blues, danced holes in my shoes
There weren't another other way to be
For loveable losers, no account boozers
And honky tonk heroes like me
(Hey Hey)

Where does it go, the good Lord only knows
It seemed like it was just the other day
I was down in Green Gables, a hawkin' them tables
And generally blowin' all of my hard earned pay
Pi-anny roll blues, I danced holes in my shoes
There weren't another other way to be
For the loveable losers, and no account boozers
And honky tonk heroes like me
(Yeah)

Where does it go, the good Lord only knows
It seemed like it was just the other day
I was down in Green Gables, a hawkin' them tables
And generally blowin' all of my hard earned pay
Pi-anny roll blues, I danced holes in my shoes
There weren't another other way to be
For them loveable losers, and no account boozers
And honky tonk heroes like me
(Yeah, Whoo)

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don't let 'em pick guitars and drive them old trucks
Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
'Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone
Even with someone they love

Cowboys ain't easy to love and they're harder to hold
They'd rather give you a song than diamonds or gold
Lonestar belt buckles and old faded Levis
And each night begins a new day
If you don't understand him, and he don't die young
He'll probably just ride away

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don't let 'em pick guitars and drive them old trucks
Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
'Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone
Even with someone they love

Cowboys like smoky old pool rooms and clear mountain mornings
Little warm puppies and children and girls of the night
Them that don't know him won't like him and them that do
Sometimes won't know how to take him
He ain't wrong, he's just different but his pride won't let him
Do things to make you think he's right

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don't let 'em pick guitars and drive them old trucks
Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
'Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone
Even with someone they love

A long time forgotten are dreams that just fell by the way
And the good life he promised ain't what she's living today
But she never complains of the bad times or bad things he's done, Lord
She just talks about the good times they've had and all the good times to come

She's a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man
She loves him in spite of his ways that she don't understand
Through teardrops and laughter they'll pass through this world hand in hand
A good hearted woman lovin' her good timin' man

He likes the night life and bright lights and good timin' friends
When the party's all over she'll welcome him back home again
Lord knows she don't understand him but she does the best that she can
'Cause she's a good hearted woman, she loves her good timin' man

She's a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man
And she loves him in spite of his wicked ways that she don't understand
Through teardrops and laughter they'll pass through this world hand in hand
A good hearted woman lovin' her good timin' man

She's a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man
She loves me in spite of my wicked ways that she don't understand
Through teardrops and laughter we'll pass through this world hand in hand, Lord
A good hearted woman lovin' her good timin' man

The only two things in life that make it worth livin'
Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' women
I don't need my name in the marquee lights
I got my song and I got you with me tonight
Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love

Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we're livin'
Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs and
Newbury's train songs and "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain"
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, ain't nobody feelin' no pain

So baby, let's sell your diamond ring
Buy some boots and faded jeans and go away
This coat and tie is choking me
In your high society, you cry all day
We've been so busy keepin' up with the Jones
Four car garage and we're still building on
Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love

Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we're livin' got us feudin'
Like the Hatfield and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs and
Newbury's train songs and "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain"
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, ain't nobody feelin' no pain

Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
Willie and Waylon and the boys
This successful life we're livin's got us feudin'
Like the Hatfield and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs
And Jerry Jeff's train songs and "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain"
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, there ain't nobody feelin' no pain

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

Somebody told me when I got to Nashville
Son you finally got it made
Old Hank made it here, we're all sure that you will
But I don't think Hank done it this way
I don't think Hank done it this way

Ten years down the road, making one night stands
Speeding my young life away
Tell me one more time just so I understand
Are you sure Hank done it this way
Did Ol' Hank really do it this way?

I've seen the world with a five piece band
Looking at the back side of me
Singing my songs and one of his now and then
But I don't think Hank done 'em this a'way
No I don't think Hank done 'em this a'way