Music History 402: Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way

A few years ago my brother introduced me to a legendary country song. A few weeks ago, it captivated the entire crowd at Red Rocks during a Monolith set-break. A few days ago, my boss pinpointed it and gave me a brief history lesson. I shall paraphrase him, Wiki and a bit of old-fashioned CD booklet research here.

"Well I always said Waylon was an American original. He struck out on doing it his own way and he made it work against great odds in the Nashville music community. He did it in an 'un-Nashville kind' of way. Everybody was saying things like 'Hank Williams would turn over in his grave if he could see what was happening to country music today.' So Waylon writes a song called Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way." - Johnny Cash

"Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" was introduced to the public in 1975 from country legend Waylon Jennings. It aimed at, or rather was adopted by, the traditionalists who detested the "new Nashville lifestyle" of the 70's. Basically, there were a handful of country fans who wanted country music to return to its roots, the way Hank Willams established it, without the shiny rhinestone suits, fancy cars and glamour that were taking over the scene. As with all legendary artists and their smash songs, criticism followed the release of this song. Whether it be Williams' lifestyle, the verses with slight changes in each line ("Are you Sure Hank Done It..."/"Are You Sure Hank Did It..."), or the overall impression of the times and progression/regression of Nashville, the song has seen interpretations and judgement. It did chart at the #1 spot in 1975.



One interesting note that I had passed until researching on AllMusic, was that the song (of course not in the live version above) only has two chords and NO chorus.

No, I'm not giving a full-on-bio...you don't have the time either.

Born in Texas in 1937, Waylon Jennings was a self-taught guitar player and started his major career as the bass player for Buddy Holly. He gave up his seat to "The Big Bopper" on the plane crash that took the lives of the Bopper, Richie Valens and Holly. Jennings later admitted feeling great guilt for the plane crash as he joking told Holly, "I hope your plane crashes," in response to Holly's badgering of "I hope your bus freezes."

Numerous hits, drug addiction bankruptcy, the formation of The Highway Men (with Cash, Kristofferson, and Nelson), a Family Guy and Sesame Street appearance, and the theme song to Dukes of Hazzard are just the tip of what Waylon left in his wake. Waylon died in 2002 in Arizona after complications from diabetes, which also forced him to amputate his foot only months earlier.

Waylon Jennings - Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way