The lyrics of "Entertainer" by Waylon Jennings tell the story of a musician who is reflecting upon his life as an entertainer. He starts off by stating that he knows his place in the industry as just another singer-songwriter, and acknowledges that his success is fleeting. The protagonist recognizes that he must stay relevant and popular in order to remain in the music business. He understands that if he falls off the charts, he won't be able to continue his career. The song continues with the entertainer reflecting on the sacrifices he has made to achieve success. He admits to learning from his mistakes and having to learn things the hard way. Despite his achievements, he still faces criticism and continues to deal with critics and naysayers. But he has learned to handle them by playing the game and writing them off with a check. The entertainer shares that he has traveled all over the world, performed in various venues, and encountered different people. However, the constant touring has blurred the faces and names of the people he has met. It all starts to become a monotonous routine for him. The entertainer acknowledges that he has had hits in his career, but in order to make them commercially viable, they had to be shortened and cut down to fit within the constraints of a radio-friendly length. He feels that his talent and creativity have been compromised for the sake of commercial success. Despite the fame and money he has accumulated, the entertainer realizes that he can easily be forgotten and discarded like any other product. He compares himself to being placed in the back of a discount rack, just like any other cheap item. Overall, "Entertainer" by Waylon Jennings portrays the struggles and sacrifices of a musician in the entertainment industry. It highlights the pressure to stay relevant, the compromises made for commercial success, and the feeling of being replaceable in a highly demanding and fickle industry.
