Fans of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Jessi Colter, Bobby Bare, David Allan Coe, Townes Van Zandt, and other icons of the Outlaw movement will be very happy with The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s upcoming major exhibition, Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ’70s.
This installation will open on May 25th and is set to run through February 14th, 2021. Outlaws & Armadillos will dive deep into this decade of cultural and artistic exchange between Nashville, Tennessee and Austin, Texas.
“Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ’70s offers an unprecedented look at some of the most compelling music and artists in music history,” shares museum CEO Kyle Young. “This was an era in which renegades Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson fought for and won creative control of their own songs and sounds. It was a time when melodic poets Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt and Billy Joe Shaver elevated public perception of what a country song could be. It was a time when the Austin, Texas, music and arts scenes blossomed, and when characters like singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker, Hondo Crouch (who bought his own town, Luckenbach, Texas), armadillo art specialist Jim Franklin and University of Texas football coach Darrell Royal changed Lone Star culture. At the time, some of these things seemed unusual, even insane. Now, they all seem essential to any understanding of this great American art form, country music.”
As country music fans know so well, the Outlaw phenomenon has influenced many of today’s Americana and country artists, such as Dierks Bentley, Jason Isbell, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Margo Price, Sturgill Simpson, and Chris Stapleton.
Learn more about the history behind the musical movement and what to expect from the upcoming exhibit here.
In celebration of this welcome news, enjoy watching Willie Nelson performing “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” in honor of Waylon Jennings’ legacy with some very familiar faces— including Kris Kristofferson, Jessi Colter, Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, Kacey Musgraves, Alison Krauss, Chris Stapleton, Toby Keith, Shooter Jennings, Lee Ann Womack, and Sturgill Simpson.
“Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” Lyrics
The only two things in life that make it worth livin’
Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin’ women
I don’t need my name in the marquee lights
I got my song and I got you with me tonight
Maybe it’s time we got back to the basics of love
Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we’re livin’
Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys
Between Hank Williams’ pain songs and
Newberry’s train songs and Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain
Out in Luckenbach, Texas ain’t nobody feelin’ no pain
So baby, let’s sell your diamond ring
Buy some boots and faded jeans and go away
This coat and tie is choking me
In your high society you cry all day
We’ve been so busy keepin’ up with the Jones
Four car garage and we’re still building on
Maybe it’s time we got back to the basics of love
Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we’re livin’ got us feudin’
Like the Hatfield and McCoys
Between Hank Williams’ pain songs and
Newberry’s train songs and Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain
Out in Luckenbach, Texas ain’t nobody feelin’ no pain
Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas
Willie and Waylon and the boys
This successful life we’re livin’s got us feudin’
Like the Hatfield and McCoys
Between Hank Williams’ pain songs
And Jerry Jeff’s train songs and Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain
Out in Luckenbach, Texas there ain’t nobody feelin’ no pain
Share this exciting announcement with other country music fans!
