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Introduction
“Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line” is one of those Waylon Jennings tracks that gets right into your bones and makes you feel like you’re part of a story too wild to tame. Released in 1968, this song doesn’t just talk about rebellion—it lives it. Waylon, with his unmistakable gravelly voice and defiant tone, turns this song into an anthem of independence and raw honesty. The lyrics are a witty, tongue-in-cheek play on the frustration of feeling pushed around in a relationship, and Waylon gives every word a punch that’s hard to forget.
This track has that driving beat and a swaggering guitar riff that pushes it forward with a steady determination. It’s as if the music itself is saying, “I’m going to keep walking my own line, no matter what.” That combination of rhythm and grit really embodies the outlaw spirit that would soon come to define Waylon and his circle of country icons.
“Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line” isn’t just a song; it’s a defining moment in the outlaw country movement, showing fans that country music could be tough, unapologetic, and even a bit rebellious. Waylon paved the way for a whole new generation of artists who would follow their own rules, and this song was a big part of that shift. It’s a track that feels as alive today as it did when it first hit the airwaves, and listening to it is like catching a glimpse of country music at a time when it was about to break free from the norms.
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Lyrics
I didn’t say it
Y’all have a good time
Do what you want to
Everybody knows you’ve been steppin’ on my toes
And I’m gettin’ pretty tired of it
Steppin’ out of line
And a-messin’ with my mind
If you had any sense, you’d quit
‘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
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 a-beggin’ me to come back home
‘Cause ever since you were a little bitty scrawny girl
You said I was the only man in this whole world
You better do some thinkin’, then you’ll find
You got the only daddy that’ll walk the line
You got the only daddy that’ll walk the line