Introduction:
Waylon Jennings, a pivotal figure in outlaw country music, released “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” in 1975. The song, the lead single from his album Dreaming My Dreams, became a critical and commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It stands as a significant statement within the genre’s history, sparking discussions about artistic authenticity and the evolving sound of country music.
Emerging in the early 1960s, Jennings carved a path distinct from the polished pop-country dominating the Nashville scene. He embraced the raw, working-class honesty that characterized the music of his idol, Hank Williams Sr.. Williams, a legend whose career spanned the late 1930s to the early 1950s, had a profound impact on country music. He infused it with themes of heartbreak, loneliness, and the struggles of everyday life, delivered in a powerful, emotionally charged voice.
“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” functions as a tribute to Williams’ legacy while simultaneously critiquing the direction country music was taking in the mid-1970s. The song opens with a lament: “Lord, it’s the same old tune, fiddle and steel guitar / Where do we take it from here?” Jennings then goes on to question the increasing emphasis on flashy production elements, with lines like “Rhinestone suits and new shiny cars / It’s been the same way for years.” This shift in style, he argues, strayed from the core values of country music, the genre’s connection to the working class, and the raw emotions it traditionally conveyed.
The song doesn’t simply criticize; it also serves as a call to action. Jennings asks, “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” – a pointed question directed at both the artists and the industry itself. Was the current trend truly representative of the genre’s roots? Was it what Williams, a pioneer who sang about the struggles of ordinary people, would have endorsed?
“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” resonated deeply with fans who felt a similar sense of alienation from the increasingly commercialized country music scene. It became an anthem for those who yearned for a return to the genre’s more traditional sound and storytelling. The song’s success helped pave the way for the outlaw country movement of the late 1970s, a movement that championed artistic integrity and a return to the raw honesty that characterized country music’s earlier years. Produced by Jack Clement, a well-respected figure who had worked with artists like Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis, the song’s stripped-down production further emphasized Jennings’ message, aligning the music with the stripped-down authenticity he advocated for.
“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” remains a cornerstone of Waylon Jennings’ career and a significant marker in country music history. It’s a song that continues to spark conversations about artistic integrity, the power of tradition, and the evolving sound of a beloved genre.
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Lyrics:
Lord, it’s the same old tune, fiddle and guitarWhere do we take it from here?Rhinestone suits and new shiny carsIt’s been the same way for yearsWe need a change
Somebody told me, when I came to Nashville“Son, you finally got it madeOld Hank made it here, and we’re all sure that you will”But I don’t think Hank done it this wayI don’t think Hank done it this way, okay
Ten years on the road, makin’ one-night standsSpeedin’ my young life awayTell me one more time just so I’ll understandAre you sure Hank done it this way?Did old Hank really do it this way?
Lord, I’ve seen the world with a five-piece bandLooking at the back side of meSinging my songs, and one of his now and thenBut I don’t think Hank done ’em this way, noI don’t think Hank done it this wayTake it home