About The Song
Waylon Jennings had been signed to RCA Victor for nine years before he finally earned his first official Billboard number one hit with “This Time.”
Waylon’s first recording contract actually came in 1963 with Herb Alpert’s A & M Records, but that relationship yielded just one album which did nothing on a national level. Alpert saw Jennings as a pop vocalist in the vein of Al Martino! That basic difference in philosophy prevented them from flourishing as a team.
After seeing Waylon’s performance at JD’s Club in Phoenix, Arizona, Bobby Bare helped Jennings secure his RCA deal, convincing Chet Atkins to give him a chance. However, things progressed slowly after Waylon moved to Nashville in 1965. His first record, “That’s the Chance I’ll Have To Take,” went to a mere #49, and Jennings had to wait until his fifth RCA release, “(That’s What You Get) For Lovin’ Me,” to reach Billboard’s Top Ten.
A dozen more singles attained the same status in the ensuing years, including “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line,” which spent five weeks at #2 in the fall of 1968. A couple of all-time classics (Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” and Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley PTA”) bounced over it to keep Waylon’s record locked in at #2. Jennings also picked up a Grammy award with the Kimberlys in 1970 for “MacArthur Park,” even though that very pop-sounding release understandably could do no better than #23 on Billboard’s country chart.
Initially, Waylon relied on Atkins as his producer, but continually expressed displeasure with the standard Nashville recording methods. In November of 1972, attorney Neil Reshen exploited a loophole in Jennings’ RCA contract to gain, not only more money for Waylon, but also artistic control over his records. Producing himself, Jennings finally notched his first number one single 19 months later with “This Time,” a song he had written five years earlier. Most of the “This Time” album was co-produced by Waylon and Willie Nelson, but the title track was one of the few in the package in which Nelson didn’t participate.
The song “This Time” almost didn’t happen. Waylon was in the recording studio working on the album and said, “Hey, let me try this one,” and brought out “This Time.” He started recording it, but didn’t get very far until he stopped. Thinking the song’s meter was just too tricky, he exclaimed, “Aw, this ain’t no good,” and started to throw it away. At that point, Jennings’ drummer Richie Albright stepped in and said, “No, do it one more time. I think it’ll work.” So Waylon tried it again and it turned out great. “This Time” reached the #1 position of Billboard’s “Hot Country Singles” chart on June 22, 1974
Video
Lyrics
This time if you want me to come back, it’s up to you
But remember I won’t allow the things you used to do
You’re gonna have to toe the mark and walk the line
This time will be the last time
This time if I should feel unwanted, I won’t stay
Each tomorrow will depend on the love you give today
It’s all up to you to keep in mind
This time will be the last time
This time should be anything like the other times
This time will be the last time
If this time should be anything like the other times
This time will be the last time