About the Song
Released as part of the posthumous collection Songbird on October 3, 2025, “I’m Gonna Lay Back With My Woman” is a rediscovered gem from Waylon Jennings’ archives — a track recorded between 1973–1984, now given its rightful place in his catalogue.
In this song, Jennings embraces a mood that is both laid-back and deeply grounded. He lets the road-weariness sit beneath the surface, while he expresses the simple but potent conviction: time with a loved one is worth the pause. There’s no swagger required, no grand statement to be made — instead, it’s the kind of intimate declaration that comes from years of living, loving, leaving, and returning. His baritone voice makes the pledge feel like a vow, not shouted but softly held.
Musically, the arrangement supports the song’s tranquil determination. The band settles into a groove: steady rhythm, warm guitar work, and the unmistakable presence of his backing outfit, the Waylors. According to reviews, the recording exudes “country blues” flavour and an organic rehearsal-room authenticity that’s unpolished in the best way. It feels like the off-hours of a session, late in the day, the stage lights dimmed, instruments still warm, voices still full of story.
For older listeners — those who’ve ridden highways, sat around campfires, held hands in flickering lamplight — this song resonates. It speaks to the wisdom of stepping off the fast lane, of choosing stillness, and of rediscovering the uncomplicated joy of sharing quiet time. The notion of “laying back” isn’t surrender—it’s a confident retreat into what matters.
“I’m Gonna Lay Back With My Woman” may not have been a charting single, but as part of the Songbird album it takes on new significance. It shows Jennings in a reflective mode, beyond the outlaw persona, more at ease with love, more willing to rest, more aware of the richness found in the slow chords. If you let it, the song will pull you into its gentle momentum—and in that embrace, you find the heart of a man who’s done many things but recognizes that sometimes, all that’s left to do is be still, together.