I’d heard The Burritos1 out in California,
Could fly higher than The Byrds2.
Roger McGuinn2 had a 12-string guitar2,
It was like nothin’ I’d ever heard.
And The Eagles3 flew in from the west coast.
Like The Byrds they were tryin’ to be free.
While in Texas the talk turned to Outlaws4,
Like Willie and Waylon and me.

(Hey!)

Well, they say Texas music’s in the makin’.
And we’ve been makin’ music that is free.
Doin’ one-night stands, playin’ with our bands,
Willie, Waylon and me.

(Oh Mad Dog!)

Instrumental break featuring harmonica.

They say The Beatles5 were just the beginning,
Of everything music could be.
Just like The Stones6 I was rollin’ alone.
Like a ship lost out on the sea.
And Joplin would die for the future.
And Dylan7 would write poetry.
And in Texas the talk turned to Outlaws,
Like Willie4 and Waylon4 and me.

(Hey!)

(My name is David Allen Coe, and I’m from Dallas, Texas.)

They say Texas music’s in the makin’.
And we’ve been makin’ music that is free.
Doin’ one-night stands, playin’ with our bands,
Willie, Waylon and me.

(Big Jim!)

Instrumental break featuring honky tonk piano.

I’d heard The Burritos out in California,
Could fly higher than The Byrds.
Roger McQuinn had a 12-string guitar,
It was like nothin’ I’d ever heard.
And The Eagles flew in from the west coast.
Like The Byrds they were tryin’ to be free.
While in Texas the talk turned to Outlaws,
Fade.
Like Willie and Waylon and me.
Mmm-hmmm, mmm-hmmm, mmm-hmmm...
Find more similar lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.com/H4X
WILLIE, WAYLON & ME
Written by: David Allan Coe-1977
Performed by: David Allan Coe-1977
Appears on: David Allan Coe Rides Again-1977, Banded Together-1979,
The Best of David Allan Coe-1984, 20 Greatest Hits-1994, Live: If That
Ain't Contry-1997, The Essential David Allan Coe-2004, The Ultimate
Collection-2005, et al.

1Refers to The Flying Burrito Brothers who helped forge the connection
between rock and country music. With their 1969 debut album, The Gilded
Palace of Sin, they virtually invented the blueprint for country-rock.

2The Byrds were not solely responsible for devising folk-rock, but they
were certainly more responsible than any other single act (Dylan included)
for melding the innovations and energy of the British Invasion with the
best lyrical and musical elements of contemporary folk music. The jangling,
12-string guitar sound of leader, Roger McGuinn's, Rickenbacker was
permanently absorbed into the vocabulary of rock. They also played a vital
role in pioneering psychedelic rock and country-rock.

3The Eagles were closely identified with a country- and folk-tinged sound
that initially found favor in and around Los Angeles in the late '60s. But
the band also drew upon traditional rock & roll styles and, in their later
work, helped define the broadly popular rock sound eventually referred to
as classic rock.

4Outlaw country was a significant trend in country music during the late
1960s and the 1970s (and even into the 1980s in some cases), commonly
referred to as The Outlaw Movement (both by fans and by people in the music
industry) or simply Outlaw music. The focus of the movement was on
self-declared, "outlaws," such as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon
Jennings, David Allan Coe, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Joe Shaver, and others.
The reason for the movement has been attributed to a reaction to demands put
on them by the Grand Old Opry (such as wanting the backup musicians to be
"Opry" musicians, not the regular band members), and the way compensation was
established (the majority of the proceeds going to the Opry producers, rather
than the artists). The Outlaws grew their hair long, wore denim and leather
and looked like hippies in contrast to the clean cut country singers in suits
that were pushing the Nashville sound. The success of these singers did much
to restore the rawness and life force to country music. The songs were about
drinking, drugs, hard working men and honky tonk heroes.

5Mega British Band from the early '60s to the late '70s.

6Another Mega British Band from the early '60s, still together and still
touring (July 2008).

7Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, poet, and disc jockey
who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. Much of
Dylan's most celebrated work dates from the 1960s. He is still working and
touring (July 2008).