Waylon Jennings – Clyde

About The Song

“Clyde” is a song written by J.J. Cale, first released on his 1972 album Naturally. Dr. Hook covered it in 1978 on their album Pleasure and Pain. Waylon Jennings recorded his version in 1979, releasing it in April 1980 as the first single from his album Music Man on RCA Victor. The song reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, No. 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada, and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.

It was produced by Waylon Jennings and Richie Albright at American Sound Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, featuring The Waylors with Ralph Mooney on steel guitar, Reggie Young on guitar, and Albright on drums. The 2:38 track includes a funky bassline, reflecting Cale’s Tulsa sound influence.

The album Music Man also includes Jennings’ hit “Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys),” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Music Man peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and sold over 500,000 copies by 1981, earning gold certification from the RIAA. Jennings’ version of “Clyde” appeared in the 2009 film Watchmen, playing in Happy Harry’s Bar during a scene with Nite Owl II and Rorschach.

A live performance from a 1981 Grand Ole Opry show was released on the 2009 album Waylon Live: Expanded Edition. The song was performed at the 1980 Willie Nelson Fourth of July Picnic in Austin, Texas, highlighting Jennings’ outlaw country era.

Video

Lyric

Whoop, Whoop

Clyde plays electric bass,
Plays it with finese and grace
Set on a porch, ain’t got no shoes
Pickin’ the bass and singin’ the blues

Misery loves company,
This ole dog sings harmony,
Tamborine tied to his tail,
You can hear him moan, you can hear him wail,
Yeah

Whew
Jody baby, she got a dollar,
Down the road, you can hear her holler,
Git up Clyde, we got things to do,
That ole dog can sing the blues,

He don’t move, he don’t flinch
Clyde, he don’t move an inch,
Set on a porch, ain’t got no shoes,
Pickin’ the bass and singin’ the blues
Whoop Whoop

Clyde plays electric bass,
Played it with finese and grace
Set on a porch, ain’t got no shoes
Pickin’ the bass and singin’ the blues