Waylon Jennings - Old Timer (The Song) Lyrics






I grew up in Wyoming
In and around Jackson's hole
In the shadows of the Tetons
Where summers are hot
And winters unbearably cold
But the Spring and the Fall
Are always as good as it gets
For over 70 years now
I'd watch the sun rise and set

I've been a cowboy
Working the round-ups in spring
I've lived in the mountains
Hunted the grizzly
Trapping the rivers and streams
Always the loner
I've treasured my freedom the most
And though i never married
As a young man I might have come close

From somewhere back east
She came to the valley
With a man who did her no good
He was fast with the ladies
A tin horn gambler
And a cheat whenever he could
She had no friends or family
Most of the time he was gone
He died in a card game
And she found herself all alone

Alone and afraid and left unprotected
'Cause he was all that she had
Maybe I should have
But Inever told her
So she never knew he was bad
But I'll always remember
Standing and watching her cry
There was no one to help her
But I was determined to try

I mended her fences and
Fixed up her cabin
I had everything looking good
I laid by her food
And wood for the winter
Helping wherever I could
The more I was around her
The more I wanted to be
There was something about her
That brought out a good side of me

I went into town, I brought a new outfit
I got me a haircut and shave
I'd trek through the snow
For no good reason
Just to go by her cabin each day
I don't know about love
But Iwas quite taken in by it all
Till her brother came in the Spring
And he took her back to St. Paul

I don't go down to Jackson
Ain't nothing there but motels and bars
Too damn many tourists
No place to hide
They'll find you wherever you are
They like to call me old timer
I am getting older I guess
But i don't like the changes
'Cause I've seen it all at its best

When my life is over
I don't want to be left in town
But up in the mountains
There is a place
I've marked off my own piece of ground
High in the Tetons
Above and away from it all
From the top of old Grand
I bet on a clear day - you can see
All the way to St. Paul





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Waylon Jennings Old Timer (The Song) Comments
  1. H.... H....

    I love you , thats all you will ever need,

  2. b.... ....

    I would love to see a good movie based on this song.

    b.... ....

    I think you are onto something; it would make one fine Western movie

  3. o.... f....

    JUst unbelievable that this did not get released as a single, and that as far as I know it was never played in his shows. I saw him with the Highwaymen in 1998 in Australia and didn't hear this song. But did get to stand down at the front of the stage as the guys were singing.

    o.... f....

    It is a great song, the Western Writers of America voted it as one of the 100 Greatest Western songs of all-time.

  4. D.... 3....

    I miss WAYMORE every dam day 😢 it sucks 1937-2002 64

    D.... 3....

    Same here; he was truly awesome!

  5. F.... B....

    Love it On'ry. Another great song from the Best of the Best

    F.... B....

    Thanks my friend; he's got a list of great songs about two miles long

    F.... B....

    @On'ry Waymore yeah and more. Regards Frank

  6. K.... Z....

    I think this may just be the saddest song of all time. The closing line and break in guitar make me well-up every time.

    K.... Z....

    Nothing better than a sad country song

  7. R.... H....

    Even if you don't like Waylon. I still can't find a bad song!!! Maybe the most underrated ever

    R.... H....

    Good luck on finding a bad Waylon song......' there aren't very many of them that is for damn sure.

  8. L.... V....

    Who else do a good version of this song???

    L.... V....

    I don't know of any other versions of this song. None needed Waylon nails it as usual.

  9. V.... B....

    Excellent idea to add a few pictures of Walter Brennan

    V.... B....

    Thanks for the kind words my friend

  10. B.... J....

    A few cords, a good story, a hell of a tune and singer.

    B.... J....

    Yes sir; a good song.

  11. e.... T....

    This is kinda sad

    e.... T....

    Sometimes there's nothing better than a sad country song.

    e.... T....

    @On'ry Waymore especially when there's a story in it

    e.... T....

    @J.T For sure, those are the ones that truly reach ya deep down in your soul

    e.... T....

    @On'ry Waymore I've got to say this is my favorite Waylon song. A really great but sad story, and Kenny Aranoff on the drums goes right into the lead at times.

  12. C.... W....

    BEAUTIFUL SONG...WAYLON STYLE~~~R.I.P. HOSS

    C.... W....

    Thanks Country boy:)

  13. E.... T....

    Singing a story....nobody else can compare.. Elvis of Country!!

    E.... T....

    "The King" of country!!

    E.... T....

    On'ry Waymore for sure man had alot of experience..perience...lol

    E.... T....

    George Jones ; Waylon would agree - but giving up a seat on Buddy Holly's doomed plane transcends 'country'.

    E.... T....

    For pure Country; Jones had some classics that were as good as any recorded, but I'll still take Ol' Waylon, but it is always personal taste. Two giants of the business who's likes we will never see again.

    E.... T....

    Elvis loved and respected Waylon. That was the mark of a true giant. RIP Waylon. You and your music will never be forgotten.

  14. E.... T....

    Awesome

  15. E.... T....

    Waylon Jennings is best country legend ever..r.i.p

    E.... T....

    Ol' Hoss was the best, a true one a of a kind!

    E.... T....

    On'ry Waymore ...so damn talented..shame not anyone else around (close) to his stature..left a helluva lot behind ..and I'm gonna fly his flag..lol..👍

  16. M.... D....

    Love, love, love Waylon!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

    M.... D....

    You might be Waylon's #1 fan!!

    M.... D....

    On'ry Waymore Awwwwwwwwwww love him very much!!! Such a talented man........can’t get enough!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

  17. D.... K....

    My home town. Sure brings back memories of how Jackson was. When it was politically correct to say, "Jackson's Hole". Knowing where that was. God I miss it.

    D.... K....

    Beautiful area, love The Grand Teton area and Yellowstone

  18. M.... M....

    Waylon said He got the song idea from a story in a book of stories about Wyoming. He never said the name of the book, the author of the story or the story title. I would love to read it if anyone has a clue.

    M.... M....

    I'm not entirely sure, but I think his inspiration may have come from the book Oldtimer of the Jackson Hole Country of Wyoming.

    M.... M....

    All his songs were different.  He was so into every word.  THE story-teller with a voice like an angel...

    M.... M....

    @On'ry Waymore I found a copy of that book that I want to get.

  19. J.... G....

    Miss your songs from the heart

    J.... G....

    He was simply the best.

  20. K.... S....

    LOVE this pic collection !  Perfect !

    K.... S....

    Thanks so much Kathy from this old timer!

  21. K.... S....

    I am blown away by this song.  (And how few fans have listened to it ...)

    K.... S....

    I bought the CD when it was released, on the first listening this was the standout song. I still listen time to time.

    K.... S....

    Kathy Snow, I listen to each day, I love it

    K.... S....

    This is possibly my favorite songs that he sang.

  22. t.... ....

    love it 💙

    t.... ....

    thank you:)

  23. C.... L....

    Waylon Always have done a Great job and a pretty good performance in these songs.....his or from anyone else .

    C.... L....

    Yes he does; Waylon is the man.

    C.... L....

    On'ry Waymore for sure......he was.....and anyone can't do the same.

  24. E.... F....

    good song by a great man i had a lot of Waylon albums but i think Willie is my favorite it'll be a sad day when he's gone like Merle

    E.... F....

    Willie is awesome and The Hag too, but Waylon will always be my favorite.

  25. m.... ....

    Great job by Waylon on this classic song!! Always loved how he was a Outlaw, but yet still clearly respected and paid homage to the great music that came before him.

    m.... ....

    +mandanhusker24 He was truly the greatest!!