About the Song
Recorded in October 1973 and released in 1974 on the album This Time, “Mona” reveals a side of Waylon Jennings that often went unnoticed amid the louder, brasher hits of the outlaw country movement. While known for his rugged independence and refusal to conform to the Nashville system, Jennings was also capable of deep emotional nuance—and this track is a beautiful example of that quieter strength.
“Mona” was written by Jessi Colter, Waylon’s wife, under her birth name Miriam Eddy. That personal connection lends the song a certain intimacy, and Jennings delivers it not as a performer, but almost as a man whispering words of affection in private. It was released as the B-side to his chart-topping single “This Time” in early 1974, and though it never became a radio staple, its tender sincerity has kept it alive in the hearts of fans who know to look beyond the hits.
Musically, the song is understated—minimalist in the best sense. A subtle acoustic guitar anchors the melody while Jennings’ warm, worn-in vocal floats above it, unforced and unhurried. The arrangement allows his voice to carry the emotional weight, and he does so with remarkable grace.
What makes “Mona” special is its emotional honesty. There’s no need for theatrics or embellishment. Instead, the song draws power from its simplicity. Older listeners, in particular, may find themselves drawn to the song’s calm vulnerability—there’s a life lived in every note, a familiarity in the tone that suggests memory, devotion, and perhaps even regret.
In a catalog filled with rebellion, grit, and hard-earned truths, “Mona” stands as a quiet reminder that Waylon Jennings was not just a renegade—he was also a romantic. And in this gentle track, we hear not the outcry of an outlaw, but the murmur of a man in love.