Introduction
Released in 2007 as a bonus track on Brooks & Dunn’s album Cowboy Town, “The Ballad of Jerry Jeff Walker” serves as a heartfelt tribute to the storied Texas‐Austin troubadour Jerry Jeff Walker. Co-written by Kix Brooks and acclaimed Nashville songwriter Bob DiPiero, the tune features Walker himself sharing lead vocals alongside Brooks & Dunn—a fitting homage to a legend who helped shape the “cosmic cowboy” and outlaw country sound that blossomed in the early 1970s .
Originally recorded in the Texas dancehall tradition, Walker gained widespread recognition after moving to Austin and releasing his breakthrough live album ¡Viva Terlingua! in 1973. That record, which captured the electric energy of the Austin scene, cemented Walker’s reputation as a pioneer of progressive and outlaw country—an eclectic blend of folk, blues, rock, and Tex‑Mex influences . With signature songs like “Mr. Bojangles,” he became the genre’s standard‐bearer, inspiring a generation of country artists.
“The Ballad of Jerry Jeff Walker” lyrically revisits those storied nights in Austin: the albums, the open‐road lifestyle, the long hair, sixpacks, and the ragged bands who “were most likely too far gone to get there”—a nod to the hippie‑cowboy fusion of the era and Walker’s enduring influence. Featuring lines like “Jerry Jeff Walker stumbled up the stairs … stage with a Martin guitar and a six pack,” the song vividly paints Walker’s charismatic, anything‑goes persona.
By including Walker’s own vocals, Brooks & Dunn underscore the song’s authenticity and respect, bridging their mainstream country legacy with the roots of the outlaw movement. The track stands as both a personal memory and a cultural salute, enriching Cowboy Town with a genuine connection to country music’s defiantly independent past.