Frontier Partisans

The Adventurers, Rangers and Scouts Who Fought the Battles of Empire

Ain’t Living’ Long Like This

February 14, 2021, by JimC

“Waylon Jennings was the cornerstone of my record collection forever. What appeals to me is what appeals to most people about Waylon — it’s just that very cool sense of self. It just seems like Waylon was an artist that is so important to American music, and I just thought, I can do that. And so, why not?”

— Shannon McNally 

 

Shannon McNally has recorded an album of Waylon Jennings material — The Waylon Sessions — due out in May. She’s dropped a faithful rendition of I Ain’t Living’ Long Like This, featuring the man who wrote it, Rodney Crowell.

She talked to American Songwriter Magazine about the project. I love her attitude:

“Sometimes you’ve just got to do what you want to do. There will be a return, but you don’t know what the return will be. The entire music business is a mess, for writers, for artists, for everybody. Everybody gets screwed. If this isn’t a spiritual pursuit for you, go get a job. I need to do what channels through me, and Waylon’s attitude and perception of life, to me, is something that we need, I feel that strongly.

I want to have fun and I want to feel good, I want to bring some joy, and I want people to feel that same sense of freedom that I feel, that I felt growing up listening to writers and artists like Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Joe Shaver. They armed me with a sense of humor, with a sense of right and wrong, of musical decision-making power. Sometimes you’ve just got to go for it, have some balls and do what you want to do and let the chips fall where they fall.”

That’s how heroes become immortal — someone keeps the flame burning and the songs alive. In this case,  a soulful Black Irish beauty with a smoky voice and an outlaw attitude. Yep — I reckon  that Waylon approves.

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Comments

  1. J.F. Bell says

    February 14, 2021 at 10:29 am

    That’s some pretty good Outlaw. I’m not generally a fan of covers, but I have to admit Miss McNally did it credit.

    On that note, I don’t think Rodney Crowell’s ever cut a bad record. If you haven’t already it’s worth your time to hunt down East Houston Blues – same kind of low-key coloring-outside-the-lines song that made hick music great before the prettyboy shitkickers showed up. The rest of the album (Tarpaper Sky) ain’t too bad, either.

    Reply
    • JimC says

      February 14, 2021 at 2:22 pm

      I consider him one of the greats. Till I Gain Control again is just about a perfect song.

      Reply
  2. wayne says

    February 14, 2021 at 3:35 pm

    Her attitude reminds me of a quote from Annie Oakley, “If a girl wants to be a legend, she should just go ahead and be one.”

    Reply
  3. Frankie Sharpe says

    February 15, 2021 at 9:44 am

    Too weird. Her version is playing on my Spotify feed.

    Reply
  4. Mark Wilmoth says

    February 15, 2021 at 4:28 pm

    That was alright- nice telecaster; pedal steel; & piano at the end (not to mention Rodney). I like it!

    Reply
  5. Mark Wilmoth says

    February 15, 2021 at 4:35 pm

    Always reminded me of a moonshiner I knew- his father died in a haul. I like the telecaster & pedal steel- just like Waymore!

    Reply
    • JimC says

      February 15, 2021 at 4:47 pm

      Yessir.

      Reply

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