We ride over the railroad tracks and pull up to my house. On the walls of the living room are framed movie posters from the Hillsboro Theater, now shut down. Looking at those old Gene Autry and Lash LaRue pictures brings me pleasure and takes me all the way back to a time when this tiny town of Abbott was the center of my universe. I make myself a cup of coffee and turn on the TV. By coincidence, there’s a commercial advertising “Willie Nelson Week.” One of the cable channels is broadcasting all my Westerns. Who in the hell would have thought I’d ever make enough movies to merit something like that? Another reason to smile.
The black coffee kicks in and makes me restless. I go out on the front porch and sit for a spell before deciding to walk a few blocks down to the Abbott United Methodist Church. The historical plaque says that services were first held here in 1883 by the Rev. G. W. Swofford. You’re going to laugh, but the only reason this church is still standing is ’cause me and sister Bobbie bought it a few years back. We bought it ’cause we heard it was going to be torn down. We couldn’t let that happen. When I was a little boy, I didn’t have the understanding that a church could be bought and sold. I thought God owned all the churches. And I thought that this church, which so comforted my little-boy soul, would stand forever.
I look at it now and love what I see. It’s a plain white-painted building with a pretty steeple. Inside there are a half-dozen pews that stretch all the way from one side to the other. There are pretty stained glass windows in white and pink. At the altar, there’s a large wooden cross, stark and plain.
I sit in one of the pews. I’m alone on this weekday morning and I’m enjoying the solitude. I have all the time in the world to let my memories fly this way and that.
My eyes are closed, my prayers are aimed towards the heavens, but in my gut, I don’t feel worthy of so much good fortune. I sing okay, I play okay, and I know I can write a good song, but I still feel like I’ve been given a whole lot more than I deserve.
On April 29, 2015, I turn eighty-two. That’s another big blessing, longevity—one I never expected. It’s one thing to be eighty-two, but it’s another to have the energy to keep touring the globe. That energy isn’t fueled by anything I can generate on my own.
The fuel is love—love of people, places, animals, plants, water. Love of sound, love of space, love of fireflies and star-filled skies. Love of life. Love of home.
To some, coming home means the end of the journey.
But to me it means the start of another journey, a journey without end.
THE BEGINNING
High school hero
My grandmother meant the world to me.
In the air force
Doing my best in a Nashville studio
New deejay in town
My first wife, Martha, a good woman with a great spirit
My children with Martha—Lana, Billy, and Susie
Beautiful family portrait of Lana, Billy, Martha, and Susie
Shirley and me, in perfect harmony
Sweet memories of Connie, Amy, and Paula
Wedding day for my son Billy. I was proud to be best man.
Sister Bobbie, the real musician in the family
Leon Russell, one of the greatest entertainers of our time
Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson
Annie, love of my life
On the beach in Paia, Hawaii, with Micah, Annie, and Luke
My musical mainstays—from left, Paul English, the late Bee Spears, and Mickey Raphael
Mickey Raphael, a hero of the harmonica and a forever friend (Danny Clinch)
The family and crew. I couldn’t make it without them.
A crazy crowd—from left, Poodie Locke, my stage manager (in a woman’s wig); Owen Wilson, Bo Franks, my daughter Paula; and just below her, Jessica Simpson, Dan Rather, Woody Harrelson; and, on top, director Jay Chandrasekhar
Jamming with my good friends Rosalynn and President Jimmy Carter along with my sons Luke and Micah
My main man, manager Mark Rothbaum, with Hillary Clinton
Governor Ann Richards and Dennis Hopper honoring my hometown
His Holiness the Dalai Lama enjoying a good laugh
A happy man behind the wheel of a pickup
A happy man with a happy horse
One of life’s enduring pleasures—playing poker with Merle Haggard (Danny Clinch)
Kris and Merle, buddies for life (Danny Clinch)
Back alley of the Apollo Theater, NYC, with two blues masters: B.B. King and Eric Clapton (Photographed by Jonathan Becker)
Miles Davis, a creative giant
Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, American originals
I have great respect for Neil Young as an artist and a humanitarian.
Jack White, superb guitarist, producer, and musical preservationist
Honorary degree at Berklee School of Music, with Kris, Carole King, and Annie Lennox
The great Ray Charles: I cherished his music, I cherished our friendship. (Courtesy of the Ray Charles Foundation)
Harmonizing with beautiful Bonnie Raitt
As much as I like George Clooney, I liked the singing style of his aunt Rosemary even more.
Relaxin’ at home in Hawaii with Woody and Owen
I earned my 5th degree in Gongkwon Yusul at the Master Martial Arts school under Tae Kwon Do master Sam Um.
Trigger, my closest ally and best friend
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank my wife, Annie, my sister Bobbie, Mark Rothbaum, David Vigliano, David Ritz, my editors at Little, Brown—John Parsley and Malin von Euler-Hogan—my whole family, including all the musicians, crew, friends, and loyal fans who have made my life worth living.
—Willie Nelson
I would like to thank Willie, Annie, Mark Rothbaum, John Parsley, and David Vigliano; my family: Roberta, Alison, Jessica, Jim, Henry, Charlotte, Alden, James, Isaac, Esther, and Elizabeth; and my friends: Harry Weinger, Alan Eisenstock, Herb Powell, John Tayloe, and Patrick Henderson.
—David Ritz
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
WILLIE NELSON is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993.
DAVID RITZ is the only four-time winner of the Gleason Music Book Award, and he won the 2013 ASCAP Timothy White Award for Outstanding Musical Biography. He has worked with everyone from Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye to Aretha Franklin and B.B. King.
Also by Willie Nelson
Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road
A Tale Out of Luck: A Novel (with Mike Blakely)
The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart (with Turk Pipkin)
The Facts of Life and Other Dirty Jokes
Willie: An Autobiography (with Bud Shrake)
CREDITS FOR SONG LYRICS
“Band of Brothers”
Words and Music by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon
© 2014 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Act Five Music and Run Slow Music
All rights on behalf of Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp and Act Five Music administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. Used by permission of Alfred Music. All rights reserved. All rights for Run Slow Music administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission of Hal Leonard Corporation.
“Bloody Mary Morning”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1970 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“Crazy”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1961 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
“Denver”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1976 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“Funny How Time Slips Away”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1961 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
“Goin’ Home”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1971 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“I Gotta Get Drunk”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1963 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
“I Never Cared for You”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1964 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
“I Still Can’t Believe You’re Gone”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1974 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“In God’s Eyes”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1961 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
“Is the Better Part Over”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1978 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“It’s Not for Me to Understand”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1963 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
“It’s Not Supposed to Be That Way”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1974 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“Me and Paul”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1989 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“Mr. Record Man”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1961 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
“On the Road Again”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1989 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“Pretty Paper”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1962 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
“Remember the Good Times”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1971 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“Sad Songs and Waltzes”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1964 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
“Shotgun Willie”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1973 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“Still Is Still Moving to Me”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1989 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“These Are Difficult Times”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1976 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“Time of the Preacher”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1976 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“What Can You Do for Me Now”
Written by Willie Nelson and Hank Cochran
© 1970 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC & Full Nelson Music Inc.
“Where’s the Show”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1971 Full Nelson Music Inc.
“Your Memory Won’t Die in My Grave”
Written by Willie Nelson
© 1978 Full Nelson Music Inc.
All rights administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC.,
424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
“Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly”
a/k/a “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly (Fond of Each Other)”
Words and Music by Ned Sublette
Published by Ned Sublette Music (ASCAP)
© 1981, 2006 Ned Sublette. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
“Family Bible”
Written by Walter M. Breeland, Paul F. Buskirk, and Claude Gray.
Used courtesy of Glad Music Publishing & Recording LP and Pappy Daily Music LP. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
“Heartland”
Words and Music by Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan
© 1993 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Act Five Music and Special Rider Music
All rights on behalf of Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp and Act Five Music administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. Used by permission of Alfred Music. All rights reserved. All rights on behalf of Special Rider Music administered by Special Rider Music. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.
“I Thought About You, Lord”
Words and Music by Willie Nelson
© 1996 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Act Five Music
All rights administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. Used by permission of Alfred Music. All rights reserved.
“Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)”
Word and Music by Bobby Emmons and Chips Moman
Copyright © 1977 Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc., and Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. Copyright renewed. All rights controlled and administered by Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted with permission of Hal Leonard Corporation.
“Night Life”
Written by Walter M. Breeland, Paul F. Buskirk, and Willie Nelson
© 1962 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing and Glad Music Publishing & Recording LP, Pappy Daily Music LP
All rights on behalf of Sony/ATV Tree Publishing administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC., 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. All rights reserved. Used by permission. All rights on behalf of Glad Music Publishing & Recording LP, Pappy Daily Music administered by Glad Music, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
“Nothing I Can Do About It Now”
Words and Music by Beth Neilsen Chapman
© 1989 WB Music Corp. and Macy Place Music
All rights administered by WB Music Corp. Used by permission of Alfred Music. All rights reserved.
“The Highwayman”
Words and Music by Jimmy Webb
Copyright © 1977 White Oak Songs. Copyright renewed.
All rights controlled and administered by Universal-Polygram International Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted with permission of Hal Leonard Corporation.
“The Party’s Over”
Written by Willie Nelson
Used courtesy of Glad Music Publishing & Recording LP, Heart of the Hills Publishing Co. and Pappy Daily Music LP. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
“The Songwriters”
Words and Music by Gordie Sampson and Bill Anderson
Copyright © 2014 Music Of Windswept, No Such Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Mr. Bubba Music, and Songs Of Southside Independent Publishing. All rights for Music of Windswept and No Such Music Administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC. Reprinted with permission of Hal Leonard Corporation. All rights for Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC and Mr. Bubba Music administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. All rights reserved. Used by permission. All rights for Songs of Southside Independent Publishing used by permission of Alfred Music.
“We Don’t Run”
Words and Music by Willie Nelson
© 1996 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Act Five Music
All rights administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. Used by permission of Alfred Music. All rights reserved.
“What Would Willie Do?”
Words and music by Bruce Robison
© 2001 Tiltawhirl Mujsic (BMI)—Administered by Bluewater Music Services Corp.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Welcome
Dedication
Introduction
PART ONE
MY BEGINNING 1. Home
2. To All the Girls at School
3. First Family Band
4. Zeke
5. Falling into the 1950s
6. Mission City and Other Stops along the Way
7. Positive Thinking
8. Coastin’
PART TWO
SONGS FALLING FROM THE SKY 9. Back to Cow Town
10. Dark Night of the Soul
11. The Store
12. Hello, Hits
13. The Offenders
14. Farm Lif
e
15. Waylon
16. Now
PART THREE
TEARDROPS AND FLOWERS 17. Time
18. Reboot
19. Game Changers
20. Happy Fourth, 1973
21. Pure Sunshine and Purple Jesus
22. Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House
23. Against the Grain
PART FOUR
OVER THE RAINBOW 24. Silver Screen
25. Always
26. “Burn the Fucker Down!”
27. Falling in Love
28. Keep on Truckin’
29. “Listen to the Blues They’re Playing / Listen to What the Blues Are Saying”
It's a Long Story Page 28
