About The Song
The century-old debate of whether “real country music is dying” is not new in the music industry. Even back then, the echoes of “old traditional country music isdying” had always been heard. Especially when Waylon Jennings, a country legend, voiced his opinion back in 1975.
He had strong feelings about it to the point that he had to record a song. This was of course inspired by the great artist, Hank Williams which he mentioned in the title. The song was the first song under his album Dreaming my Dreams.
Just when we thought that “Murder on Music Row” was one of the first to criticize the dying spirit of country music, we discovered that Waylon already voiced it back in 1975. Waylon released the song to pay his tribute to Hank Williams and at the same time, criticize the way country music has changed.
He questioned if the remaining country artists can do what Williams did. With the focus on shiny suits and shiny cars, is the quality of music consistent? Or is there a shift towards aesthetics being more prioritized than the authenticity and raw emotions of a song? Hank Williams, who recently topped the list of 100 Most influential country artists made by the Rolling Stone was, of course, a trailblazer in the industry. Waylon perfectly described what he felt in his lyrics:
Lord it’s the same old tune, fiddle, and guitar
Where do we take it from here?
Rhinestone suits and new shiny cars
It’s been the same way for years
We need a change
We need a change
Country fans sure do agree with Waylon’s sentiment. This was the singer’s fourth record to hit No.1 in the country charts. With it staying for 16 weeks in the country charts, it sure made a lot of buzz among the country fans. The song was also covered by prominent figures such as Alabama for their Waylon Jennings tribute album.
Video
Lyrics
Bob Wills Is Still the King (Live)
Here’s a song I wrote on a plane
Between Dallas and Austin goin’ to El Paso, whoops.
Now this is what gave us the idea to come down here,
This is a song about a guy that probably did as much
For our kind of music as anybody.
Well, the Honky Tonks in Texas
Were my natural second home
The way you tip your hat to the ladies
In the rose of San Antone.
I grew up on music
That we call western swing
It don’t matter whose in Austin
Bob Wills is still the king.
Lawd, I can still remember
The way things were back then
In spite of all the hard times
I’d live it all again.
To hear the Texas Playboys
And Tommy Duncan sing
Makes me proud to be from Texas
Where Bob Wills is still the king.
You can hear the Grand Ol Opry
In Nashville, Tennessee
It’s the home of country music
On that we all agree.
But when you cross that ol’ Red River hoss
That just don’t mean a thing
Once youre down in Texas
Bob Wills is still the king.
If you aint never been there
Then I guess you ain’t been told
That you just can’t live in Texas
Unless you got alot of soul.
It’s the home of Willie Nelson
The home of western swing
He’ll be the first to tell you
Bob Wills is still the king…