Introduction
In “Lookin’ for a Feeling,” Waylon Jennings strips away the bravado and brings listeners into the raw emotional territory he often kept guarded beneath his outlaw exterior. Released in 1983 as part of the album Waylon and Company, this track quietly stands out as a soulful confession—a man’s quiet search for something real, something lasting, in a world full of fleeting highs and hollow promises.
The title itself, “Lookin’ for a Feeling,” says it all. This isn’t about chasing thrills or glory—it’s about chasing truth, that elusive spark that reminds us we’re still alive inside. The narrator is caught in a cycle of wandering, trying, failing, and hoping—not for fame or escape, but for a moment of genuine connection, of emotional clarity.
“I’ve been lookin’ for a feeling that I once had,
A kind of love that used to make me glad…”
With those words, Jennings speaks to anyone who has ever looked back at a memory and wondered where that sense of meaning disappeared to. It’s a song for the ones who’ve had success, maybe even love, but still wake up wondering why something still feels missing.
Jennings’ voice in this track is gentler, more introspective than his usual rugged defiance. There’s a weariness in his delivery, but also a quiet perseverance—like a man who’s not ready to give up the search, even if he’s bruised from the journey. His phrasing is deliberate, unhurried, giving the lyrics space to breathe and settle into the heart.
Musically, “Lookin’ for a Feeling” blends elements of classic country balladry with a smooth, almost soft rock influence that was becoming more common in early ’80s country. The instrumentation is clean and restrained: gentle guitars, steady rhythm, and a touch of melancholy in the arrangement. It supports Jennings’ vocals without ever overshadowing them, allowing the emotion of the song to rise to the surface.
This track might not be as loud or rebellious as some of Waylon’s better-known hits, but it carries a different kind of power—the strength to admit vulnerability. For fans who know Jennings for his tough exterior, “Lookin’ for a Feeling” is a chance to see the man behind the myth. It’s a reminder that even the most legendary voices in country music carried their own quiet questions, their own restless searching.
“Lookin’ for a Feeling” is more than just a song—it’s a mirror held up to the heart of anyone who has ever longed for something deeper. And in Waylon’s voice, that longing feels both personal and universal, like a conversation you’ve had with yourself in the middle of a sleepless night. It’s honest. It’s human. It’s Waylon.