About the song
In the early 1970s, Waylon Jennings was at a crossroads in his career. Burned out from years of touring and recording, he was struggling with health issues and financial woes. Feeling trapped by the commercial constraints of the country music industry, Jennings was on the verge of giving up on music altogether. However, with the help of his business manager, Neil Reshen, Jennings was able to secure a new deal with Columbia Records that gave him the creative freedom he had been craving.
The result was “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean,” an album that marked a significant departure from Jennings’ earlier work. Recorded in late 1972, the album featured a harder, more rootsy sound that was influenced by Jennings’ love of rock and roll and his desire to break free from the constraints of traditional country music. The album’s title track, written by Steve Young, was a particular standout, with its driving beat and Jennings’ raw, emotive vocals.
“Lonesome, On’ry and Mean” was a critical and commercial success, peaking at #8 on the Billboard country albums chart and earning widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike. The album’s success can be attributed to Jennings’ newfound creative freedom, as well as the contributions of his backing band, the Waylors, who brought a new level of energy and authenticity to his music.
In the years that followed, “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean” would come to be seen as a landmark album in the development of outlaw country, a genre that celebrated its independence and rebellious spirit. Jennings’ music would continue to evolve and influence a new generation of country artists, cementing his status as one of the most important and enduring figures in country music.
Video
Lyrics
On a Greyhound bus
Lord, I’m traveling this morning
I’m goin’ to Shreveport and down to New Orleans
Been travelin’ these highways
Been doin’ things my way
It’s been making me lonesome, on’ry and mean
Now her hair was jet black
And her name was Codene
She thought she was the queen of the Basin Street Queens
She got tired of that smokey-wine dream
Began to feel lonesome, on’ry and mean
We got together, and we cashed in our sweeps
Gave ’em to a beggar who was mumbling through the streets
There’s no escaping from his snowy white dreams
Born lookin’ lonesome, on’ry and mean
Now I’m down in this valley
Where the wheels turn so low
At dawn I pray to the Lord of my soul
I say do Lord, do right by me
You know I’m tired of being lonesome, on’ry and mean