Song Meaning

Waylon Jennings, the outlaw country icon, offers a surprisingly tender, if somewhat stereotypical, observation in "Women Do Know How To Carry On." It's not a love song in the traditional sense, but rather an ode to resilience, specifically the perceived ability of women to navigate heartbreak and hardship with a grace and pragmatism that, according to Jennings, eludes men. The song posits a gendered dichotomy of emotional fortitude. The core message, repeated in the chorus, suggests that women possess an innate skill for moving forward. Jennings seems fascinated by the speed and apparent ease with which women can seemingly rebound from emotional blows. The lyrics reference a return to the superficial—"putting me and make up on"—but this isn't necessarily a criticism. It can be interpreted as a survival mechanism, a way of projecting strength and normalcy even when wounded. The "shuck and jive" line is more problematic, hinting at a performance of femininity, a masking of true feelings, although perhaps within the context of the era, it suggests an ability to adapt and navigate social expectations. Contrast this with Jennings' view of men, who, he claims, "land right on their pride and then they waste it all." This creates a picture of men as being crippled by ego, unable to cope with loss in a healthy or productive way. While the song flirts with potentially outdated gender roles, it ultimately champions the strength and adaptability that Jennings attributes to women. It's a celebration, albeit a simplified one, of female resilience in the face of life's inevitable challenges. The song meaning resides not in romanticizing relationships, but in admiring a perceived ability to endure beyond them.