Under the glitzy and glamorous surface of the music industry that fans see through their favorite artists, there’s an army of creatives working behind the scenes. In addition to the session musicians, there are producers, mixers, and songwriters who all band together to give us the music we adore. In country music, one of the most influential “background” artists is Rodney J. Crowell.
That isn’t to say he’s never spent time in the booth or on stage himself, but several of his No. 1 hits were taken there by other artists. Recently, Crowell performed the '70s classic “I Ain’t Living Long Like This,” a song that none other than Waylon Jennings took to the top.
This song has had quite the life. I wrote it back in the 70s, originally recorded by Gary Stewart, but most people know it from when Waylon Jennings cut it in 1979 and took it all the way to 1. #countrymusic #singersongwriter #americana
♬ original sound - Rodney Crowell"This song has had quite the life. I wrote it back in the '70s, originally recorded by Gary Stewart, but most people know it from when Waylon Jennings cut it in 1979 and took it all the way to #1," he captioned the video.
Fans were ecstatic to hear his own talented voice (and hands) playing the classic tune.
"One of the greatest country songs ever written," declared one fan.
"I’ve had this song stuck in my head since August," quipped another.
"The most connected cat in music. Every good story ever told in Nashville, this guy was there," noted another.
And truly, that last fan hit the nail on the head — Crowell's influence can be felt all over country music. In the early '70s, he moved to Nashville and began working with his mentor Guy Clark, according to PBS. Country queen Emmylou Harris took notice of his five-song cassette featuring his own compositions. She ended up recording “Bluebird Wine” for her first album and invited him to join The Hot Band, which served as her backing group.
By the late '70s, Rodney formed The Cherry Bombs, married Johnny Cash's daughter Rosanne Cash, and became her producer. His hits have been performed by some of the greats — in addition to Jennings — including Bob Seger and Crystal Gayle. His 1988 album Diamonds & Dirt produced five consecutive No. 1 singles, an unprecedented feat at the time.
Related: Country Legend's Son Reveals the Truth About Whether Late Dad's New Album Is AI-Generated
The Inspiration Behind the Song
According to American Songwriter, the lyrics for the tune were inspired by true-life events. Crowell was living in Crosby, Texas during high school, and after football practice, he and his friends would grab some beers and drive around the East Texas backroads.
One night, after pulling up to a stop sign, a Texas highway patrolman pulled in behind them, got out of his car, and caused the kids to scramble. He told them, “If you make one move, you’re a dead man, friend,” and the line always stuck with Crowell.
Years later, in 1976, Crowell was arrested for 40 unpaid leash-law violations. While he had the money to pay, he asked his wife to give him two hours in jail so he could finish the song.
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