About The Song
“I Ain’t Living Long Like This” was written by Rodney Crowell and originally recorded by Waylon Jennings in 1979 for his album “What Goes Around Comes Around” on RCA Records. The song reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, becoming one of Jennings’ notable hits during his outlaw country period.
Rodney Crowell wrote the song as a reflection on a hard-living lifestyle and its consequences. Crowell was emerging as a significant songwriter in country music at the time, having worked with Emmylou Harris and other prominent artists. The song fit perfectly with Jennings’ outlaw image and musical style.
The recording featured Jennings’ regular band, The Waylors, and was produced by Jennings himself along with Richie Albright. The track exemplified the outlaw country sound with its driving rhythm and Jennings’ distinctive vocal delivery, which had become his trademark by the late 1970s.
The song has been covered by various artists over the years. Rodney Crowell recorded his own version, and other country artists have included it in their repertoires. The track became a staple of Jennings’ live performances throughout his career.
The album “What Goes Around Comes Around” was released during a peak period for Jennings, following his success with the Outlaws supergroup and his breakthrough album “Honky Tonk Heroes.” The record continued his streak of successful releases during the late 1970s.
The song reflected the themes common in outlaw country music: rebellion against convention, hard living, and the consequences of a reckless lifestyle. These themes resonated with Jennings’ audience and helped maintain his position as a leading figure in the outlaw movement.
Jennings’ version helped establish the song as a country standard, and it remains one of the notable tracks from his extensive catalog. The song showcased both Crowell’s songwriting abilities and Jennings’ interpretive skills during this important period in country music history.
Video
Lyric
I look for trouble and I found it son
Straight down the barrel of a law man’s gun
I tried to run but I don’t think I can
You make one move and you’re a dead man friend
Ain’t living long like this
Can’t live at all like this, can I baby?
He slipped the handcuffs on behind my back
And left me reeling on a steel reel rack
They got ’em all in the jailhouse baby
Ain’t living long like this
Can’t live at all like this, can I baby?
Grew up in Houston off the wayside drives
Son of a car-hop and some all night dives
Dad drove a stock car to an early death
All I remember was a drunk man’s breath
Ain’t living long like this
Can’t live at all like this, can I baby?
You know the story how the wheel goes ’round?
Don’t let them take you to the man downtown
Can’t sleep at all in a jailhouse baby
Ain’t living long like this
Can’t live at all like this, can I baby?
I live with angel she’s a roadhouse queen
Makes Texas Ruby look like Sandra Dee
I want to love her but I don’t know how
I’m at the bottom in the jailhouse now
Ain’t living long like this
Can’t live at all like this, can I baby?
You know the story about the jailhouse rock?
Don’t want to do it but just don’t get caught
They got ’em all in the jailhouse baby
Ain’t living long like this
Can’t live at all like this, can I baby?