About the song
There are few collaborations in country music that capture the rugged, restless spirit of the genre quite like **Waylon Jennings** and **Willie Nelson**. Their duet **”Good Hearted Woman”**, first released in 1976 as part of the groundbreaking *Wanted! The Outlaws* album, isn’t just a song—it’s a testament to an entire movement within country music, a movement that pushed back against the polished Nashville machine and reclaimed the raw, rebellious soul of the American West.
Originally written by **Waylon Jennings** and songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, the song was inspired by a newspaper article about Tina Turner—specifically, how she remained loyal to Ike Turner despite his notorious behavior. That curious mix of strength, love, and resignation in a woman’s heart sparked Jennings’ imagination. Later, while playing poker with **Willie Nelson**, he shared the idea, and the two polished it into what would become one of the genre’s most enduring anthems.
**”Good Hearted Woman”** tells the story of a woman whose love is unconditional, even when it’s not deserved. The narrator is a self-aware, perhaps even guilty man who recognizes the unwavering devotion of his partner—a woman who “loves him in spite of his ways.” That line encapsulates much of the song’s power: it’s not about idealized romance, but the complicated, lived-in kind. It’s about a woman who knows her man is flawed, maybe deeply so, and loves him anyway—not blindly, but knowingly.
Musically, the song has all the hallmarks of the **Outlaw Country** style: spare instrumentation, a honky-tonk rhythm, and vocals that are worn in like old leather boots. When **Waylon Jennings** and **Willie Nelson** sing together, there’s a natural chemistry, as though they’re not just singing the song—they’re living it. Their voices, rough-hewn and sincere, add a layer of authenticity that studio perfection could never replicate.
For many, **”Good Hearted Woman”** is more than just a country classic. It’s a reminder of a time when country music dared to be honest, imperfect, and deeply human. It celebrates the kind of love that endures, not because it’s easy, but because it’s real.
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Lyrics
A long time forgotten are dreams that just fell by the way
And the good life he promised is not what she’s living today
But she never complains of the bad times or the bad things he’s done
She just talks about the good times they’ve had and all the good times to come
She’s a good hearted woman in love with a good timin’ man
And she loves him in spite of his ways that she don’t understand
And through teardrops and laughter
They’ll pass though this world hand in hand
This good hearted woman in love with her good timin’ man
Well, now he likes the night life, the bright lights and good timin’ friends
And when the party’s all over she’ll welcome him back home again
Though she don’t understand him but she does the best that she can
Now this good hearted woman in love with her good timin’ man
She’s a good hearted woman in love with a good timin’ man
And she loves him in spite of his ways that she don’t understand
And through teardrops and laughter
They’ll pass though this world hand in hand
This good hearted woman in love with her good timin’ man
She’s a good hearted woman in love with a good timin’ man
And she loves him in spite of his ways that she don’t understand
