Waylon Jennings ” Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way ” 1975

About the song

There are songs that speak to a moment in time — and then there are songs that question the very shape of time itself. Waylon Jennings’ “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” is one such piece. Released in 1975, this bold, introspective track didn’t just make waves in country music — it challenged its traditions and looked hard at the path the genre had taken since the days of its legends.

Waylon Jennings, one of the original pioneers of the “Outlaw Country” movement, penned this song as both a tribute and a critique. With his signature gritty voice and no-nonsense delivery, he tips his hat to the great Hank Williams, while simultaneously questioning the commercial direction country music had begun to follow. The lyrics, raw and reflective, ask whether the flashy suits and polished sound of the Nashville scene stayed true to the spirit of those who laid the foundation.

Musically, “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” is stripped down and authentic — a rhythmic stomp with electric guitar riffs that underline its restless message. It doesn’t try to sound fancy, and that’s exactly the point. Jennings wasn’t just singing about change — he was the change, leading a movement back to honesty, grit, and roots.

For listeners who remember the golden era of country or who grew up with the stories of Hank Williams, this song is more than a tune — it’s a statement. It bridges two eras, calling back to a past that was simple and true, while asking difficult questions about where the music was headed.

Waylon Jennings’ “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” remains a cornerstone in country music history — a bold, thoughtful track that honors the past while carving out a new future.

Video

Lyrics

It’s the same old tune, fiddle and guitar
Where do we take it from here
Rhinestone suits and new shiny cars
We’ve been the same way for years
We need to change

Somebody told me when I got to Nashville
Son you finally got it made
Old Hank made it here, we’re all sure that you will
But I don’t think Hank done it this way
I don’t think Hank done it this way

Ten years down the road, making one night stands
Speeding my young life away
Tell me one more time just so I understand
Are you sure Hank done it this way
Did Ol’ Hank really do it this way?

I’ve seen the world with a five piece band
Looking at the back side of me
Singing my songs and one of his now and then
But I don’t think Hank done ’em this a’way
No I don’t think Hank done ’em this a’way

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