About the Song
Released in 1971 on Waylon Jennings’ album The Taker/Tulsa, “The Taker” is a striking example of Jennings’ ability to merge sharp, narrative songwriting with the gritty realism of the outlaw country movement he would soon come to define. Written by the legendary songwriting duo Kris Kristofferson and Shel Silverstein, the track stands out as a cautionary tale about a certain kind of man — charming, persuasive, and ultimately destructive.
Musically, the song rides on a steady, understated country groove with subtle percussion, warm bass, and gentle guitar accents. Jennings’ baritone voice is the centerpiece, delivering the lyrics with a mix of cool detachment and knowing weariness. It’s a perfect fit for the character at the heart of the song — a man who can win over hearts easily but leaves a trail of emotional wreckage behind.
Lyrically, “The Taker” paints a vivid portrait of this figure through the eyes of a narrator who understands his ways all too well. He’s not a villain in the obvious sense; rather, he’s dangerously smooth, someone who “never gives, he just takes.” The song warns that his charm is not rooted in sincerity, but in the calculated art of winning people over for his own gain. The brilliance of Kristofferson and Silverstein’s writing lies in its ability to reveal this truth gradually, letting the listener see past the surface allure to the emotional emptiness beneath.
For Jennings, “The Taker” was an ideal vehicle for his natural storytelling ability and his growing rejection of Nashville’s polished, formulaic sound. Even though the production here is still cleaner than the rougher edge he would fully embrace later in the decade, his delivery carries a subtle defiance — a refusal to romanticize the character or soften the truth.
Over 50 years later, “The Taker” remains a standout in Waylon Jennings’ early ’70s catalog. It’s a song that blends literary lyricism with classic country storytelling, offering a lesson in how to deliver a character study with both musical restraint and emotional precision. For fans of Jennings, it’s also an early sign of the fearless authenticity that would soon make him one of the leading figures of outlaw country.