His Mickey Mouse Ways: An Appreciation of Waylon Jennings | Hacker News Reader

His Mickey Mouse Ways: An Appreciation of Waylon Jennings

texasmonthly.com

54 pointstintinnabula16 comments

While I wouldn't necessarily call it relevant to HN - I did very much enjoy this piece, its incredibly well written. Not that I'm complaining - stuff like this is why I enjoy being part of the HN community so much - its always a bit of potpourri.

"While I wouldn't necesarily call it relevant to HN..."

The song "Are you sure Hank done it this way?" was used in the computer game Grand Theft Auto V.

I have always liked the guitar on that song, I read HN, but I am not a gamer or game developer.

It's a song that questions the way things are, the status quo. Maybe we can do better than rhinestone suits and new shiny cars.

Very relevant to a site called "Hacker News"

If you think of Waylon as one of the guys who hacked country music back in the 60s and 70s (along with Willie and Merle and Townes and a few others), it might seem more relevant.

I recently told a colleague who made a blanket statement that he didn't like country music but who liked punk rock that Waylon and Hank Jr. were the equivalent of punk rock to country music.

I'm of an age and class where my first exposure to Hank Jr was on Monday Night Football and I can assure you there was nothing "punk" about that. (I understand Hank III is different tho)

Most of the punk people I knew liked every genre, except maybe 80s pop.

Pop Will Eat Itself - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_Will_Eat_Itself

Hmm, and they're still touring. Wouldn't mind seeing them do "Wise Up! Sucker" live.

Don't know what it's doing here, but Waylon was a legend and he's one of the few music celebs I miss. When I was younger I spent many many hours listening to Ramblin' Man etc.

"Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way" is one of my favorite country songs. I'm not sure why. I think I like that how it calls out the status quo in Nashville. Plus I like how "in your face" the instrumental is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNpLSaCirj8

Lord it's the same old tune, fiddle and guitar Where do we take it from here? Rhinestone suits and new shiny cars It's been the same way for years We need a change

Somebody told me, when I came to Nashville Son you finally got it made Old Hank made it here, and we're all sure that you will But I don't think Hank done it this way No, I don't think Hank done it this way

Ten years on the road, makin' one night stands Speedin' my young life away Tell me one more time just so's I'll understand Are your sure Hank done it this way? Did ol' Hank really do it this way?

Lord I've seen the world, with a five piece band Looking at the back side of me Singing my songs, and one of his now and then But I don't think Hank done 'em this way I don't think Hank done 'em this way. Take it home.

Written by David Allan Coe •

Where can you find it was written by David Allan Coe? Everything I've seen attributes the writing to Waylon.

The only place I can find that attributed it to Coe is: http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?lyrics=4950

Never heard of it so I don't know how much weight to give that site. Every other site says Jennings wrote it.

Beautifully written.

Dave Hickey's fantastic, very ... bracing. He's probably the only lasting thing punk left behind, this guy who writes with verve and insight about the importance of criticizing things, books and music and painting and buildings, and does it with a graceful and effortless lack of ego. Criticism is important, I take him as saying, but the critic ain't shit.

Thanks for that comment, it made me seek more of his writing, which I've enjoyed quite a lot more than most columnists.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com