Waylon Jennings' beloved song "Lonesome, On'ry and Mean" made waves in 1973 and helped him build his lasting outlaw image.
This title track helped Waylon Jennings solidify his outlaw image and revive his passion for country music after suffering from health issues and creative burnout stemming from a spat with his record label.
Enjoy his 1975 performance of “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean” below!
On a Greyhound bus
Lord, I’m traveling this morning
I’m goin’ to Shreveport and down to New Orleans
Been travelin’ these highways
Been doin’ things my way
It’s been making me lonesome, on’ry and mean
Now her hair was jet black
And her name was Codene
She thought she was the queen of the Basin Street Queens
She got tired of that smokey-wine dream
Began to feel lonesome, on’ry and mean
We got together, and we cashed in our sweeps
Gave ’em to a beggar who was mumbling through the streets
There’s no escaping from his snowy white dreams
Born lookin’ lonesome, on’ry and mean
Now I’m down in this valley
Where the wheels turn so low
At dawn I pray to the Lord of my soul
I say do Lord, do right by me
You know I’m tired of being lonesome, on’ry and mean