About the song
There are certain songs in country music that don’t just entertain — they speak to something deeper. A longing for simplicity, for authenticity, for a return to what really matters. Few songs capture that sentiment more beautifully than Waylon Jennings – Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love). Released in 1977, during the height of the Outlaw Country movement, this classic track became more than just a hit — it became an anthem for anyone tired of the rat race and dreaming of quieter days.
Written by Bobby Emmons and Chips Moman, and delivered with the rugged sincerity only Waylon Jennings could bring, the song invites the listener to take a figurative — and emotional — trip back to Luckenbach, a tiny Texas town that came to symbolize peace, simplicity, and freedom from the pressures of modern life. It’s not really about a place, but about a state of mind. A reminder that love and connection matter more than status or wealth.
The lyrics are filled with rich, relatable imagery: strained relationships, financial burdens, the trappings of fame and fortune. Jennings delivers these lines with a kind of weary wisdom, his deep voice steady and honest, making you believe every word. The chorus — “Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas, with Waylon and Willie and the boys” — offers a warm invitation to slow down, unplug, and reconnect with what’s real.
Musically, the track is relaxed and smooth, blending traditional country instrumentation with a laid-back groove that mirrors the message. There’s a gentle steel guitar, subtle piano, and a rhythm that never hurries — because in Luckenbach, there’s no need to rush.
Waylon Jennings – Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love) remains one of the most beloved country songs of all time. It reminds us that no matter how far we stray chasing success, happiness often lies in returning to the basics — love, truth, and a simpler way of life. And in today’s fast-paced world, that message feels just as powerful as it did back in 1977.
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Lyrics
The only two things in life that make it worth livin’
Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin’ women
I don’t need my name in the marquee lights
I got my song and I got you with me tonight
Maybe it’s time we got back to the basics of love
Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we’re livin’
Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys
Between Hank Williams’ pain songs and
Newbury’s train songs and “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain”
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, ain’t nobody feelin’ no pain
So baby, let’s sell your diamond ring
Buy some boots and faded jeans and go away
This coat and tie is choking me
In your high society, you cry all day
We’ve been so busy keepin’ up with the Jones
Four car garage and we’re still building on
Maybe it’s time we got back to the basics of love
Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we’re livin’ got us feudin’
Like the Hatfield and McCoys
Between Hank Williams’ pain songs and
Newbury’s train songs and “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain”
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, ain’t nobody feelin’ no pain
Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas
Willie and Waylon and the boys
This successful life we’re livin’s got us feudin’
Like the Hatfield and McCoys
Between Hank Williams’ pain songs
And Jerry Jeff’s train songs and “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain”
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, there ain’t nobody feelin’ no pain
