About The Song
“Come with Me” is a song performed by Waylon Jennings, released in 1979 as a single from his album What Goes Around Comes Around on RCA Records. Written by Chuck Woolery and Harlan Howard, the song became one of Jennings’ major hits, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart on September 15, 1979, and charting for 16 weeks. The 2:59 track is a heartfelt ballad about companionship, with lyrics like: “If you’re scared, I’ll hold your hand / Come with me, baby, I’m your man.”
Jennings recorded the song in 1979 at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, produced by Waylon Jennings and Richie Albright. The session featured The Waylors, with Ralph Mooney on steel guitar, Gordon Payne on guitar, and Richie Albright on drums, alongside session musicians including a string section arranged by Albright. The arrangement features a gentle steel guitar, soft strings, and Jennings’ warm vocals, creating a tender, inviting atmosphere. The album What Goes Around Comes Around reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and sold over 500,000 copies by 1980, earning gold certification from the RIAA.
The song’s selection came during Jennings’ peak in the outlaw country movement, as he balanced his rebellious image with more accessible, emotional material. Woolery and Howard’s composition resonated with Jennings’ desire to explore themes of loyalty and love, recorded at a time when he was refining his sound. In a 1979 interview with Country Music magazine, Jennings said: “It’s a simple song, but it says everything about sticking together.” The track gained exposure through its inclusion in the 1979 television special Waylon Jennings: Live from Austin, aired on PBS, featuring a live performance.
Covers of the song include a 1980 version by George Jones on I Am What I Am and a 1982 rendition by Dolly Parton on Heartbreak Express, per SecondHandSongs. A live performance from a 1980 Grand Ole Opry appearance was released on the 2009 album Waylon Live: Expanded Edition. The song appeared in the 1980 film Honeysuckle Rose, used in a scene with Jennings and Willie Nelson, and in a 2018 episode of Yellowstone, featured during a quiet, emotional moment.
Jennings frequently included “Come with Me” in his live sets, notably at the 1979 Fourth of July Picnic in Gonzales, Texas, hosted by Willie Nelson, where it connected with the audience. A 1981 duet with Jessi Colter was released on the album Leather and Lace. The song was performed at the 1985 Farm Aid benefit concert in Champaign, Illinois, and featured in a 2019 documentary, Waylon Jennings: Love Songs, aired on PBS, exploring his softer side. The track remains a beloved piece in Jennings’ catalog, often paired with other heartfelt ballads.
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Lyric
If you’re scared, I’ll hold your hand
Come with me, baby, I’m your man
We’ll walk through the darkness, side by side
With love as our guide, we’ll never hideCome with me, don’t be afraid
We’ll find a way through the plans we’ve made
Through the storms and the pouring rain
I’ll be there to ease your painIf you’re scared, I’ll hold your hand
Come with me, baby, I’m your man
We’ll face the world, just you and me
Together forever, we’ll always beCome with me, let’s take a chance
We’ll find our place in this lifelong dance
With every step, our love will grow
Come with me, baby, let’s go