About The Song
“Good Hearted Woman” is a country song co-written by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, first released as a single by Jennings in 1972 on RCA Victor. The song, from Jennings’ album of the same name, peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in March 1972 and charted for 14 weeks. The 3:18 track tells the story of a woman who stands by her man despite his wild ways, with lyrics like: “A long time forgotten are the dreams that just fell by the way / The good life he promised ain’t what she’s living today.” Nelson and Jennings recorded a duet version in 1975, released in January 1976 on RCA Records, which became a bigger hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart on February 21, 1976, and No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song originated in 1969 during a poker game in Fort Worth, Texas, where Nelson and Jennings were inspired by a radio ad for Ike and Tina Turner’s “Good Hearted Woman Loving a Good Timing Man.” Nelson wrote the initial verse on a napkin, and Jennings contributed to the rest. They first performed it live that night at a local club. Jennings recorded the solo version in 1971 for his album Good Hearted Woman, produced by Ronny Light, with session musicians including Billy Sanford on guitar and Hargus “Pig” Robbins on piano. The album reached No. 7 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Nelson’s solo take appeared on his 1972 album The Willie Way on RCA Records, though it didn’t chart as a single.
The 1976 duet version was recorded in 1975 at RCA Studios in Nashville, produced by Jennings and Nelson as part of their collaborative album Wanted! The Outlaws. The album, also featuring Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser, became the first country album to be certified platinum by the RIAA, selling over 1 million copies by 1977. The recording features Nelson and Jennings trading verses, backed by a full band with Ralph Mooney on steel guitar and Charlie McCoy on harmonica. The song’s success earned the duo the CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year in 1976 and a Grammy nomination for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group. A live version from a 1974 concert was released on the 2000 album Live from Austin, TX.
The song became a staple in both artists’ live performances, often played during their joint tours in the 1970s and 1980s, including at Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnics. Nelson performed it at the 1976 CMA Awards alongside Jennings, where they wore their signature leather vests, symbolizing their outlaw country personas. Covers include a 1972 version by Tina Turner on her album Country Love Songs and a 1992 rendition by George Jones on Walls Can Fall, per SecondHandSongs. The song was used in the soundtrack of the 1980 film Urban Cowboy, featuring the Nelson-Jennings duet in a bar scene.
“Good Hearted Woman” played a key role in the outlaw country movement, reflecting Nelson and Jennings’ push for creative control against Nashville’s commercial constraints. The song was later included in the 2006 compilation Nashville Rebel, a box set chronicling Nelson’s career. It was also performed at the 2013 tribute concert “Outlaw: Celebrating the Music of Waylon Jennings,” where Nelson joined Alison Krauss for a duet version. The song was featured in a 2018 episode of the TV series Yellowstone, underscoring a moment of camaraderie.
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Lyric
A long time forgotten are the dreams that just fell by the way
The good life he promised ain’t what she’s living today
But she never complains of the bad times or the bad things he’s done, Lord
She talks about the good times they’ve had and all the good times to comeShe’s a good hearted woman in love with a good timin’ man
She loves him in spite of his ways that she don’t understand
Through teardrops and laughter, they’ll pass through this world hand in hand
A good hearted woman loving her good timin’ manHe likes the night life, the bright lights, and good timin’ friends
When the party’s all over, she’ll welcome him back home again
Lord knows she don’t understand him, but she does the best that she can
This good hearted woman loving her good timin’ manShe’s a good hearted woman in love with a good timin’ man
She loves him in spite of his ways that she don’t understand
Through teardrops and laughter, they’ll pass through this world hand in hand
A good hearted woman loving her good timin’ man