Telling it like it is.
With Election Day in full swing this morning, I stumbled upon an old article from The Los Angeles Times, where Waylon Jennings was asked about his political opinions and thoughts at the time.
The interview took place in 1988, the year when Republican George H.W. Bush ultimately defeated Democrat Michael Dukakis. This conversation with Waylon occurred in October, just a month before the election in November, and he recalled writing a song called “Yoyos, Bozos, Bimbos and Heroes” with Roger Murrah.
He told LA Times‘ Mike Boehm that they were disgusted over the Iran-Contra hearings the year prior, and this was a way to express those feelings through music:
“Between those senators and that girl, Fawn Hall, and Oliver North in his uniform, it was a three-ring circus.”
He explained that he didn’t exactly mean for it to be a direct commentary on that historical event, though he couldn’t lie and say that the song didn’t fit the bill, so to speak… that is where the got the inspiration, after all:
“With Bush and Dukakis not talking about any issues, just cutting each other with personal attacks, the heroes are awfully hard to find.”
Politicians not giving a direct answer about an important issue that Americans really care about? Some things never change, I guess…
When pressed on who he would pick in the voting booth, because inevitably one of the candidates was going to win, Waylon was honest in saying he wasn’t a “Republican… [or] Democrat” and wasn’t seemingly thrilled with either option:
“I really wouldn’t know what to say. I’m not a Republican, and I’m not a Democrat.”
He did admit that he would probably vote for Bush, who ultimately won the election that year, saying he felt “safer, more comfortable” with him in charge:
“I kind of like Bush’s attitude better. I feel safer, more comfortable with him when he’s talking.”
“Yoyos, Bozos, Bimbos and Heroes” was included on Waylon’s 1988 Full Circle album, which was his fourth and final studio album for MCA before he moved over to Epic Records.
The lyrics feel perfectly fitting today, 36 years later, where he takes a pointed stance on politicians and the deceit and lies that comes along with any election cycle:
“Reigning like fine politicians
Dressed up in perfect disguise
Pushing their science and fiction
Mixing the truth with the lies
So why we’re all busy looking for answers
There’s one thing we all need to know
The difference between yoyos
Bozos and bimbos and heroes”
The best music is timeless and relevant no matter the year, and this one (sadly, honestly) holds up and feels especially relevant considering the circumstances of this day, month and even year.
My favorite Waylon Election Day story is from his 1988 interview with SPIN, where Waylon told a reporter to burn their “Willie For President” bumper sticker, because you wouldn’t even want Willie “to be dogcatcher”:
“You do? Well burn that thing. If there’s anything you don’t want, Hoss, is Willie Nelson to be president. I mean, you don’t even want him to be Secretary of — you don’t even want him to be dogcatcher.”
Classic.
Turn it up…
“Yoyos, Bozos, Bimbos and Heroes”
