Song Information
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Title: Women Do Know How to Carry On
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Artist: Waylon Jennings
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Songwriter: Waylon Jennings
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Album: Waylon and Company
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Release Date: August 1983
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Genre: Outlaw Country
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Label: RCA Victor
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Producer: Jerry Bridges & Gary Scruggs
Released as part of his collaborative album Waylon and Company in 1983, “Women Do Know How to Carry On” is one of Waylon Jennings’ more reflective and understated tracks. While the album featured duets with country legends like Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr., this song was a solo highlight—written and performed by Waylon himself. It blends his signature outlaw sound with a surprisingly introspective message about strength, heartbreak, and the emotional endurance of women.
Song Content
In Women Do Know How to Carry On, Waylon Jennings offers a rare and poignant tribute to the emotional strength of women, particularly in the aftermath of a broken relationship. Rather than turning the lens inward, Jennings flips the usual male-centric narrative and shines light on how women are often more resilient when it comes to heartbreak and moving forward.
The lyrics describe a man who thought he had the upper hand—believing he could leave without consequence. But as time passes, he’s left lingering in pain, still looking back while she’s already found the courage to heal and move on. Her strength isn’t loud or vengeful—it’s quiet, dignified, and enduring.
Waylon’s voice carries both regret and admiration, admitting that while men may act tough, women are often the ones who survive love’s storms with grace. The arrangement is minimal but emotionally charged, letting the lyrics stand front and center. This isn’t just a country song—it’s an ode to the silent power of women who know how to carry on even when it hurts.
Explaining the Deeper Message
At its core, Women Do Know How to Carry On challenges the traditional cowboy image of emotional detachment. Waylon Jennings, a pioneer of the “Outlaw Country” movement, was known for his rugged independence and masculine bravado. But here, he delivers a song filled with humility and quiet revelation. He admits that men—despite their bravado—are often left stuck in the past, nursing wounds long after the women they hurt have healed and moved forward.
This shift in perspective is what makes the song stand out. It isn’t just about romantic regret—it’s about the myth of emotional strength. Waylon peels back the layers and exposes a truth many are reluctant to admit: that strength isn’t about suppressing pain, but about facing it and continuing on. And women, he argues, often do this better than men.
The title itself is powerful in its simplicity. “Carry on” suggests a kind of perseverance that doesn’t seek attention. It’s not flashy or dramatic—it’s enduring. Through this song, Waylon pays homage to all the women who walk away from heartbreak with their heads high, leaving behind men who assumed they’d always be in control.
Watch the Song on YouTube
Lyrics
Women do know how to carry onWell there won’t be too much cryin’ time aloneThey’ll be right back puttin’ me and make up onWomen do know how to carry onWhen she can’t keep love afloat she will surviveIn her soft and sexy way she’s gonna shuck and jiveWipe the tears and find the things that she needs to get alongWomen do know how to carry on women do know how to carry on yeah[ guitar ]Never knew a man who could take a fallThey’ll land right on their pride and then they waste it allBut even when the best she’s ever had is goneWomen do know how to carry onWomen do know how to carry on…Women do know how to carry on[ guitar ]They’ll be right back puttin’ me and make up on[ guitar ]There won’t be too much cryin’ time aloneThey’ll be right back puttin’ me and make up onWomen do know how to carry on