About the Song
Tucked near the end of his 1972 album Ladies Love Outlaws, “Thanks” reveals a side of Waylon Jennings that fans didn’t always get to see—a soft-spoken, heartfelt moment of appreciation wrapped in a melody of humble reflection. Long before he became the full-throttle voice of the outlaw country movement, Waylon was already wrestling with fame, identity, and the cost of being himself. And in “Thanks,” he lays it all down with disarming sincerity.
The song isn’t flashy. There’s no heavy production, no swagger, no fight. Instead, it’s a simple thank-you note—to the people who stuck by him, to the ones who believed in him, and maybe even to the fans who were just beginning to understand what he was trying to say with his music. His voice is low, measured, full of emotion—but never dramatic. It’s honest. That rare kind of country truth that doesn’t need to raise its voice to be heard.
Released during a turning point in Waylon’s career, Ladies Love Outlaws marked his growing resistance to Nashville’s commercial constraints and his movement toward creative freedom. But “Thanks” isn’t about rebellion. It’s about roots. It’s a moment of stillness amidst the storm—proof that even the boldest outlaws carry a soft spot in their hearts.
For longtime fans, “Thanks” stands as one of Waylon’s most underrated gems. It shows us the man behind the myth—the friend, the son, the grateful artist who hadn’t forgotten where he came from, even as the road ahead was calling.