“THEY CALLED HIM AN OUTLAW… BUT THE STORY BEGAN WITH A 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL.”On a dusty highway in 1971, Lee Clayton scribbled a half-thought lyric about women and wild men, then forgot about it. Months later, he watched his little niece run toward a stray dog, fearless and glowing, and suddenly the whole song snapped into place. He finished the lyric in a week — already hearing Waylon’s voice in every line, even sneaking in a nod to Waylon and Jessi at the end. By the time Waylon cut it in Nashville in ’72, he was done letting the label polish his edges. The song sounded rough, honest… almost defiant. Nobody knew it then, but that performance helped give “outlaw country” its name. ❤️

About The Song

“Ladies Love Outlaws” is a classic track performed by Waylon Jennings, released in 1972 as a single under RCA Victor and later featured on his album Ladies Love Outlaws the same year. Written by Lee Clayton, the song was originally recorded by Clayton in 1971, but it was Jennings’ rendition that brought it widespread recognition. On August 12, 1972, the single climbed to No. 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and remained there for 12 weeks. Running 3 minutes and 33 seconds, the song captures the magnetic pull of the outlaw lifestyle, expressed through memorable lines like: “Ladies love outlaws, like babies love stray dogs / Ladies touch babies like outlaws touch the law.”

Jennings recorded the track at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, with Ron Chancey as producer. The session included The Waylors—Ralph Mooney on steel guitar, Jerry Gropp on guitar, and Richie Albright on drums—along with additional session musicians and background vocalists. The arrangement blends a steady rhythm, Mooney’s expressive steel guitar, and Jennings’ unmistakable voice, all of which helped shape the developing outlaw country sound. The album Ladies Love Outlaws reached No. 7 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and sold over 300,000 copies by 1973 according to RIAA records, marking an important milestone in the rise of the outlaw movement.

Jennings chose the song at a time when he was fully embracing the outlaw image, making Clayton’s storytelling of rebellion and freedom a perfect fit. Recorded during a period of creative tension with RCA, the track became a defining piece of the outlaw country identity, shared by artists like Willie Nelson. In a 1972 interview with Country Music magazine, Jennings remarked that the song represents “the spirit of living outside the lines.” Its popularity grew further when it was featured in the 1972 television special Country Music USA on ABC, where Jennings performed it live.

Several artists have covered the song over the years, including Clayton’s 1971 original and Hank Williams Jr.’s 1973 version on Why Don’t You Love Me. Jennings’ influential recording inspired additional interpretations, such as The Outlaws’ 1980 version on their album Western Union. A live rendition from Jennings’ 1973 Grand Ole Opry performance later appeared on the 2008 release Waylon Live: The Lost Nashville Sessions. The song also found a place in popular culture, appearing in the 1976 film The Outlaw Josey Wales during a saloon scene, and again in a 2019 episode of Yellowstone during a gritty character sequence.

Jennings performed “Ladies Love Outlaws” frequently in his concerts, including a notable appearance at the 1972 Dripping Springs Reunion in Texas, where the song resonated strongly with the crowd. In 1978, he recorded a duet version with Willie Nelson for their collaborative album Waylon & Willie. The track also appeared at the 1976 Willie Nelson Fourth of July Picnic in Gonzales, Texas. Most recently, it was featured in the 2020 PBS documentary Waylon Jennings: Outlaw Anthem, which reflected on Jennings’ pivotal role in shaping the outlaw movement.

Video