All comments by others about the meaning of this song are wrong. Allow me to clarify. The song was written by Waylon. As a child and teenager, Waylon idolized Hank. He sat by his radio at night, so excited to hear Hank's latest song. Later he saw Hank on television. He thought, "Wow! Look at Hank singing with his guitar! How exciting! What a life! I'm going to do that someday!"
Then Waylon actually did start doing it. But it wasn't exciting and easy after a while. Making records was often boring and difficult. Touring was very rigorous. It wasn't fun. It was boring. Record companies preached about what they wanted. Fans want to hear hits. Night after night it is the same shit. So, Waylon is saying "This isn't fun. It is hard. It looked fun for Hank. I thought it would be fun for me. It isn't. Did Hank really do it this way? He couldn't have done it this way. Because I thought he was living the greatest life possible, seeing him on stage with his guitar."
Waylon is borded and tired of his music and of touring, but as a kid seeing Hank do it, he never thought it would be boring and difficult. So he is asking, are you sure it was boring and difficult for Hank.
@songman3367 Are you sure Hank done it this way? Did old Hank really do it this way?
You are right. It's about how Waylon feels like there is something missing in his life/career, but he seems to be unable to find out what's that. So instead of saying "I'm feeling hopeless" and complaining, he wonders if his old idols/legends, like Hank felt they same. And guess what? Yes, Hank done it this way!
@songman3367 Are you sure Hank done it this way? Did old Hank really do it this way?
You are right. It's about how Waylon feels like there is something missing in his life/career, but he seems to be unable to find out what's that. So instead of saying "I'm feeling hopeless" and complaining, he wonders if his old idols/legends, like Hank felt they same. And guess what? Yes, Hank done it this way!
All comments by others about the meaning of this song are wrong. Allow me to clarify. The song was written by Waylon. As a child and teenager, Waylon idolized Hank. He sat by his radio at night, so excited to hear Hank's latest song. Later he saw Hank on television. He thought, "Wow! Look at Hank singing with his guitar! How exciting! What a life! I'm going to do that someday!"
Then Waylon actually did start doing it. But it wasn't exciting and easy after a while. Making records was often boring and difficult. Touring was very rigorous. It wasn't fun. It was boring. Record companies preached about what they wanted. Fans want to hear hits. Night after night it is the same shit. So, Waylon is saying "This isn't fun. It is hard. It looked fun for Hank. I thought it would be fun for me. It isn't. Did Hank really do it this way? He couldn't have done it this way. Because I thought he was living the greatest life possible, seeing him on stage with his guitar."
Waylon is borded and tired of his music and of touring, but as a kid seeing Hank do it, he never thought it would be boring and difficult. So he is asking, are you sure it was boring and difficult for Hank.
@songman3367 Are you sure Hank done it this way? Did old Hank really do it this way? You are right. It's about how Waylon feels like there is something missing in his life/career, but he seems to be unable to find out what's that. So instead of saying "I'm feeling hopeless" and complaining, he wonders if his old idols/legends, like Hank felt they same. And guess what? Yes, Hank done it this way!
@songman3367 Are you sure Hank done it this way? Did old Hank really do it this way? You are right. It's about how Waylon feels like there is something missing in his life/career, but he seems to be unable to find out what's that. So instead of saying "I'm feeling hopeless" and complaining, he wonders if his old idols/legends, like Hank felt they same. And guess what? Yes, Hank done it this way!