“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
There’s something incredibly raw and rebellious in the very bones of “Outlaw Shit” by Waylon Jennings. This song doesn’t just sit comfortably in the history of country music; it redefines the genre’s very spirit, blurring lines between country and rock, tradition and rebellion. It’s the kind of track that gives you the sense you’re hearing a story from a friend who’s been through it all—the good, the bad, and the downright outlaw.
This track takes us back to a time when country music was shifting gears. It was the ‘70s, and artists like Jennings were pushing back against the polished, predictable Nashville sound. Instead of just following along, they chose to carve their own path, representing the rough-and-tumble authenticity of real, gritty American life. Waylon wasn’t just singing; he was telling his truth, sharing a slice of his life that many felt, but few could put into words. With “Outlaw Shit,” you feel every ounce of his conviction, his frustration with labels and expectations, and his relentless need for freedom. It’s a song that grabs you by the collar and pulls you into Waylon’s world—a world where rules are made to be broken.
What makes “Outlaw Shit” so unique is the no-holds-barred attitude Waylon brings to the track. He doesn’t soften his edges for anyone, and he doesn’t ask for permission. His voice is like rough-cut gravel—perfectly imperfect, dripping with emotion and edge. The lyrics aren’t just rebellious for rebellion’s sake. Instead, they reflect a philosophy of life, a desire to live on his terms without being hemmed in by society’s definitions. Waylon’s words hit home with anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t quite fit, or who’s ever been judged for walking their own path. In a way, “Outlaw Shit” is more than just a song; it’s a declaration of independence.
The music itself, like Waylon, is unapologetically raw. It’s stripped-down, tough, and a little bit wild. The rhythm is driving, a steady beat that feels like a heartbeat, and the guitar riffs are gritty, grounded, like the calluses on a rancher’s hand. It’s an anthem that doesn’t just sound good—it feels like freedom. Listening to it, you can practically smell the leather and whiskey, taste the dust in the air. Every time it plays, you’re transported back to the heyday of the Outlaw Country movement, when artists like Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash were taking the genre by storm and turning it into something altogether new, something timeless.
“Outlaw Shit” is also deeply relatable because it’s about staying true to yourself, even when the world seems hell-bent on making you conform. It’s about loyalty to your roots and your values, about taking risks and standing tall in the face of adversity. For Waylon, this wasn’t just a song—it was his life. His battle with the music industry, his struggles with addiction, his love for his friends and fellow musicians—it all comes through in this one powerful anthem. You get the sense that he’s telling us, “Be who you are, come hell or high water.” It’s a message that resonates as much today as it did back then.
So, when you listen to “Outlaw Shit,” you’re not just listening to a song; you’re hearing the heartbeat of a movement, the voice of a man who dared to live life on his terms. You’re getting a front-row seat to the life of one of country music’s true outlaws, a man who wasn’t afraid to stand up to anyone who tried to put him in a box. In a world where so many are trying to blend in, Waylon Jennings reminds us all of the power of standing out.
Video
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I’m for law and order
The way that it should be
This song’s about the night they spent
Protecting you from me
Someone called us outlaws
In some old magazine
New York sent a posse down
Like I ain’t never seen
[Chorus]
Don’t you think this outlaw shit
Has gotten out of hand?
What started out to be a joke
The law don’t understand
Was it singing through my nose
That got me busted by the man?
This ain’t it, this outlaw shit
Has gotten out of hand
Out of hand
Out of hand
[Verse 2]
We were wrapped up in the music
That’s why we never saw
The cars pull up, the boys get out
And the room fill up with law
They came pounding through the back door
In the middle of my song
They got me for possession
Of something that was long gone
[Chorus]
Don’t you think this outlaw shit
Has gotten out of hand?
What started out to be a joke
The law don’t understand
Was it singing through my nose
That got me busted by the man?
This ain’t it, this outlaw shit
Has gotten out of hand
Out of hand
Out of hand