About the song
Waylon Jennings and the Heartbreak Ballad: A Look at “The Taker”
In the realm of country music, Waylon Jennings stands as a towering figure, an artist who fearlessly pushed the boundaries of the genre while never losing sight of its traditional roots. With his gruff yet soulful vocals and a songwriting style that was both poetic and deeply personal, Jennings crafted songs that resonated with audiences across generations. Among his many enduring classics, “The Taker” holds a special place, a ballad that encapsulates the essence of Jennings’ artistry and the timeless themes of love, loss, and the complexities of the human heart.
Released in 1971 as the title track of Jennings’ album The Taker/Tulsa, the song was co-written by Jennings and the legendary duo of Kris Kristofferson and Shel Silverstein. This songwriting trio was a force to be reckoned with, their combined talents giving birth to some of the most memorable songs in country music history. “The Taker” is no exception, its lyrics painting a vivid portrait of a love gone wrong, where one partner is left to pick up the pieces of a shattered heart.
Jennings’ delivery of the song is nothing short of masterful. His voice, imbued with both tenderness and grit, conveys the raw emotions of the protagonist, a man grappling with the aftermath of a love that has taken more than it has given. The lyrics unfold like a confessional, each verse revealing another layer of pain and regret.
“He’s a giver, he’ll give her the kind of attention she’s never known He’s a helper, he’ll help her to open the doors that she can’t on her own He’s a lover, and I’m just the taker, the taker of all she’s got to give And I’m the fool who’s gonna lose her, ’cause I’m just the taker, and she’s the giver”
The chorus, with its simple yet profound refrain, drives home the central theme of the song: the imbalance of power in a relationship where one partner gives endlessly while the other takes without reciprocation. The use of third-person pronouns throughout the song adds a layer of detachment, as if the narrator is trying to distance himself from the pain he feels, yet the raw emotion in Jennings’ voice belies this attempt.
“The taker, the taker, oh, I’m just the taker And she’s the giver, the giver, and I’m just the taker”
“The Taker” is not a song about blame or recrimination; it is a song of acceptance, of acknowledging one’s own shortcomings and the consequences of one’s actions. The narrator knows that he is the one to blame for the demise of the relationship, and he takes full responsibility for his part.
“I’m the reason her heart is breaking, I’m the reason her tears are falling I’m the reason she’s always aching, and I’m the reason she’s always calling”
Despite the heartbreak and regret, there is a glimmer of hope in the song. The narrator still loves the woman he has lost, and he longs for reconciliation. He knows that he needs to change, to become a better man, before he can even hope to win her back.
“I’m gonna change my ways, I’m gonna change my ways I’m gonna find a way to make her stay”
“The Taker” is a powerful and poignant ballad that captures the complexities of love and loss. It is a song that has resonated with countless listeners over the years, and it continues to be a touchstone for those who have experienced the pain of a love that has run its course. Waylon Jennings’ masterful performance and the song’s timeless lyrics make “The Taker” a true classic of country music.
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Lyrics
“The Taker”
He’s a giver, he’ll give her the kind
Of attention that she’s never known
He’s a helper, he’ll help her to open
The doors that she can’t on her own.He’s a lover and he’ll love her in ways
That she’s never been loved before
He’s a getter, he’ll get her by gettin’ her
Into the world she’s been hungerin’ for.
He’s a charmer, he’ll charm her with money
And manners that I never learned
He’s a leader, he’ll lead her across
Pretty bridges he’s plannin’ to burn.He’s a talker, he’ll talk her right off of her feet
But he won’t talk for long
‘Cause he’s a doer, and he’ll do her the way
That I’d never, damned if he won’t do her wrong.He’s a taker, he’ll take her to places
And make her fly higher than she’s ever dared to
He’ll take his time before takin’ advantage
Takin’ her easy and slow.And after he’s taken the body and soul
She gives him he’ll take her for granted
Take off and leave her taken all of her
Pride when he goes.He’s a taker, he’ll take her to places
And make her fly higher than she’s ever dared to
He’ll take his time before takin’ advantage
Takin’ her easy and slow…