An Outlaw and a Lady
Page 19
I’ve also been blessed to have worked diligently for a great many charities dealing with everything from music education for underprivileged children to research for pancreatic cancer.
Do I, some fifteen years after Waylon’s passing, yearn for romance myself? I do. Even as I cherish my independence and am proud of the fact that I’ve learned to live alone, I’d like to share my life with a man. But I’m not a casual dater. When it comes to relationships, I have no interest in superficial connections. I’m looking for a serious friendship and a faithful commitment bonded by spirit. Early on, I came to see that a widow is an especially vulnerable creature. But blessedly, I’ve been protected by the Lord whose strength is my salvation.
Waylon, of course, continues to cast a long shadow over any potential romantic relationhip I might have with another man. His presence is everywhere in my home. His presence continues to comfort me. But, in seeking a new love, I am not looking to repeat the love I shared with Waylon. That was a love both great and unique. Even in retrospect, it brings me joy. A new love will look much different. I look forward to greeting that love with gratitude, knowing that, as always, God will provide the spiritual sustenance that makes this earthly journey an ongoing adventure.
Finally, I want to thank the living God of love for the infinite wonder of human life and the inexhaustible flow of creative energy that has allowed this story to be told.
Let the last words, from Psalm 91 (KJV), be his:
Because he hath set his love upon me,
therefore will I deliver him:
I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
JESSI ACKNOWLEDGES:
My mother, who by her example taught me to believe, and my father, who, quiet and strong, never gave up.
Elsie P. Hand, for giving to Georgia and America her political guidance in education and banking—and for guiding me through widowhood.
Maureen Rafferty, who served our family and business faithfully—and also helped with this book’s research and library of photos.
My musical family, who have kept me strong and encouraged—Reggie and Jenny Lynn Young; Carter and Barny Robertson; Robby Turner and Richie Albright—always there for me.
My girlfriends Addie Scavone and Lisa Kristofferson, true angels.
Nikki Mitchell and Terrie Lawrence, both poets and sisters, who encouraged me with my story.
My brother John Johnson, who remains the steel of our family, always there with spiritual guidance and practical assistance.
Cindy Denham, our accountant who always told us the truth.
Mike Vadin, tax attorney and friend.
My children and Waylon’s children, all growing into fine human beings and carrying our lives forward.
David Ritz and Webster Younce, for confidence in my story.
Billy Mitchell, our lifetime photographer; Charles Gabrean, most recent photos taken in Arizona.
Don Kunz, our lawyer in Arizona, who won two very important court cases that affected our lives long-term, and his wife, Edith, my mentor for fashion, wit, and humor. They are lifetime friends.
Jay Goldberg, lawyer and jury consultant who oversaw and won Waylon’s notorious “drug bust” case in Nashville. Jay and his wife, Rema, are family friends forever.
And of course all glory to God, my reason for living.
DAVID RITZ ACKNOWLEDGES:
Jessi, for a beautiful collaboration and meaningful friendship.
Webster Younce, for sensitive editing.
David Vigliano, for superb agenting.
Mark Rothbaum, for introducing me to Jessi.
And my beautiful wife, Roberta, my children, my grandchildren, and my friends, for all the loving support.
Thank you, Jesus.
Permissions for use of song lyrics:
“Never Got Over You” (Jessi Colter/Ray Herndon) © 2006 Higher Flame Publishing (BMI)/Yarman Songs (ASCAP); “Please Carry Me Home” (Jessi Colter/ Shooter Jennings) © 2006 Higher Flame Publishing (BMl)/Faster and Harder Music/ Universal Music Corp. (BMI); “So Many Things” (Jessi Colter) © 2006 Higher Flame Publishing (BMI); “The Phoenix Rises” (Jessi Colter) © 2006 Higher Flame Publishing (BMI); “You Can Pick ‘Em” (Jessi Colter/Ray Herndon) © 2006 Higher Flame Publishing (BMI)/Yarman Songs (ASCAP); “God If I Could Only Write Your Love Song,” written by Jessi Colter, © 1977 Helen D. Johnson Music (BMI), administered by Words & Music, a division of Big Deal Music, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. International Copyright Secured. “New Wine (From Heaven),” written by Jessi Colter, © 1977 Helen D. Johnson Music (BMI), administered by Words & Music, a division of Big Deal Music, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. International Copyright Secured. “Let It Go,” written by Jessi Colter, © 1977 Helen D. Johnson Music (BMI), administered by Words & Music, a division of Big Deal Music, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. International Copyright Secured. “Put Your Arms Around Me,” written by Jessi Colter, © 1977 Helen D. Johnson Music (BMI), administered by Words & Music, a division of Big Deal Music, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. International Copyright Secured. “There Ain’t No Rain,” written by Jessi Colter, © 1977 Helen D. Johnson Music (BMI), administered by Words & Music, a division of Big Deal Music, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. International Copyright Secured. “For Mama (AKA My Mama),” written by Jessi Colter, © 1977 Helen D. Johnson Music (BMI), administered by Words & Music, a division of Big Deal Music, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. International Copyright Secured. “I Belong To Him,” written by Jessi Colter, © 1977 Helen D. Johnson Music (BMI), administered by Words & Music, a division of Big Deal Music, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. International Copyright Secured. “Master, Master,” written by Jessi Colter, © 1977 Helen D. Johnson Music (BMI), administered by Words & Music, a division of Big Deal Music, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. International Copyright Secured. “Consider Me,” written by Jessi Colter, © 1977 Helen D. Johnson Music (BMI), administered by Words & Music, a division of Big Deal Music, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. International Copyright Secured. “If She’s Where You Like Livin’ (You Won’t Feel At Home With Me),” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1969 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “I Ain’t The One,” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1969 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “Don’t Let Him Go,” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1969 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “It’s All Over Now,” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1969 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “It’s Morning (And I Still Love You),” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1975 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “Here I Am,” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1975 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “Would You Leave Now,” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1976 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “Rounder, Words and Music by Jessi Colter Copyright (c) 1975 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “Storms Never Last,” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1975 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permissi
on. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “What’s Happened To Blue Eyes,” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1975 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “I’m Not Lisa,” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1972 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “Is There Any Way (You’d Stay Forever),” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1975 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “Let The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (Lead The Song),” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1975 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “I’m Living Proof (There’s Life After You),” words and music by Roger Murrah and Waylon Jennings, copyright (c) 1987 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC and Waylon Jennings Music. All rights on behalf of Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC. “Please Carry Me Home,” words and music by Jessi Colter and Shooter Jennings, copyright (c) 2004 Universal Music Corp., Faster N Harder Music and Higher Flame Music. All rights for Faster N Harder Music administered by Universal Music Corp. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “Darlin’ It’s Yours,” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1976 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “Oh, Will (Who Made It Rain Last Night),” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1976 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “Angels Love Bad Men,” words and music by Roger Murrah and Waylon Jennings, copyright (c) 1987 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC and Waylon Jennings Music. All rights on behalf of Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “You Deserve The Stars In My Crown,” words and music by Roger Murrah and Waylon Jennings, copyright (c) 1987 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC and Waylon Jennings Music. All Rights on behalf of Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “You Hung The Moon (Didn’t You Waylon?),” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1976 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC; “Without You,” words and music by Jessi Colter, copyright (c) 1969 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC.
NOTES
CHAPTER 1: ARIZONA AT NIGHT
1.Sara Teasdale, “Night in Arizona,” http://www.theotherpages.org/ poems/teasd01.html, public domain.
CHAPTER 2: WHEN TIME AND ETERNITY MEET
1.C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (New York: HarperCollins, 2009), 81.
2.“When Time and Eternity Meet,” traditional hymn, public domain.
CHAPTER 3: BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON
1.Edgar Allan Poe, “Eldorado” (1903), The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Lit2Go Edition, accessed July 25, 2016, http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/147/the-works-of-edgar-allan-poe/5283/eldorado/, public domain.
CHAPTER 11: RHYTHMS
1.Waylon Jennings and Lanny Kaye, Waylon: An Autobiography (Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2012), 112.
CHAPTER 22: FLYING HIGH, FALLING LOW
1.Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain, Fiftieth Anniversary Edition (New York: Harcourt, 1998), 248.
CHAPTER 23: PATIENCE
1.Waylon, 287.
2.Ibid., 291.
CHAPTER 25: UNEXPECTED BIRTH
1.Waylon.
CHAPTER 29: THIS MORTAL COIL
1.“Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” is a popular Christian hymn written in 1907 by Ada R. Habershon with music by Charles H. Gabriel. Public domain.
2.William Shakespeare, Hamlet, act 3, scene 1.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
JESSI COLTER IS ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST BELOVED SINGER-songwriters. Her storied career began in the sixties when, encouraged by her first husband, guitar legend Duane Eddy, she composed hit songs for Dottie West, Nancy Sinatra, and Hank Locklin. Best known for her collaboration with her husband Waylon Jennings and for her 1975 country-pop crossover hit “I’m Not Lisa,” she was the only woman featured on the landmark album Wanted: The Outlaws that forever changed American music. She has fifteen major-label albums to her credit, and her songs and records have sold in the tens of millions. She lives near Scottsdale, Arizona.
DAVID RITZ, CALLED “ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC AND RESPECTED music biographers of the modern era” by the New York Times, has collaborated with, among others, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and B.B. King.