About The Song
“Mental Revenge” is a song performed by Waylon Jennings, released in 1967 as a single on RCA Victor, later included on the 1968 album Jewels. Written by Mel Tillis, the song was first recorded by Tillis in 1966 but gained prominence with Jennings’ version. The track peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart on September 9, 1967, and charted for 10 weeks. The 2:21 song captures a mix of heartbreak and defiance, with lyrics like: “I hope that the train you’re riding on / Jumps the track and leaves you all alone.”
Jennings recorded the song in 1967 at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, produced by Chet Atkins. The session featured The Waylors, with Ralph Mooney on steel guitar, Floyd Cramer on piano, and Richie Albright on drums, alongside session musicians. The arrangement includes a prominent steel guitar riff, Cramer’s piano accents, and Jennings’ emotive vocals, blending traditional country with a raw edge. The album Jewels reached No. 31 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and sold over 150,000 copies by 1969, per RIAA records, marking an early milestone in Jennings’ career.
The song’s selection came during Jennings’ early years at RCA, as he sought material that resonated with his evolving sound. Tillis’ composition, with its theme of emotional retaliation, suited Jennings’ gritty style, recorded at a time when he was pushing against Nashville’s polished production norms. In a 1967 interview with Country Music magazine, Jennings said: “It’s about getting even in your mind when you can’t in real life.” The track gained exposure through its inclusion in the 1967 television special Country Music Caravan, aired on NBC, featuring a live performance.
Covers of the song include Tillis’ 1966 original and a 1968 version by Linda Ronstadt on Hand Sown… Home Grown. Jennings’ rendition inspired later covers, such as a 1976 version by John Anderson on Takin’ the Country Back, per SecondHandSongs. A live performance from a 1968 Grand Ole Opry appearance was released on the 2008 album Waylon Live: The Lost Nashville Sessions. The song appeared in the 1971 film Vanishing Point, used in a driving scene, and in a 2016 episode of Nashville, featured during a bar sequence.
Jennings frequently included “Mental Revenge” in his live sets, notably at the 1968 Dripping Springs Reunion in Texas, where it resonated with the audience. A 1978 recording with Willie Nelson was released on the album Waylon & Willie. The song was performed at the 1976 Willie Nelson Fourth of July Picnic in Gonzales, Texas, and featured in a 2019 documentary, Waylon Jennings: Early Hits, aired on PBS, exploring his formative years. The track remains a classic in Jennings’ catalog, often paired with other emotionally charged songs.
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Lyric
I hope that the train you’re riding on
Jumps the track and leaves you all alone
I hope the bridges you cross all burn down
And the love you’re looking for can’t be foundMental revenge, that’s what I’m after
Since you left me with tears for laughter
I hope your new love turns out to be
As cold as you were to meI hope the rain falls on your parade
And the sun never shines on the plans you’ve made
I hope your dreams all fade away
And every night you cry ‘til the break of dayMental revenge, that’s what I’m after
Since you left me with tears for laughter
I hope your new love turns out to be
As cold as you were to me