You spoke to me in the church. And you spoke to me in the fields and in the open pastures. You spoke to me in the songs of the mockingbirds and blue jays who flew above us. You spoke to me through the rustle of the Texas wind in the trees and through the thunder in the night. And when I pause to listen, you still speak to me.
You spoke to me through the music and the guidance from Mama Nelson, who told me, “God always prevails because good and goodness can never be defeated.”
I wrote a song for you once, called “In God’s Eyes,” but maybe I wrote all those songs for you. Just as all those songs were gifts from you.
You were with me at the birth of my children, and at the passing of my friends. You are with me when I gaze out on the bluebonnets of Texas. You’re with me when the rooster crows at dawn. He doesn’t sound sweeter than a mockingbird, but try telling the rooster that.
I feel you when I marvel and wonder at the brilliant rainbows of Maui, when I sing in the little frontier chapel in Luck, and when I stop for reflection on a quiet weekday in the Methodist church where Sister Bobbie and I first lifted our voices to the heavens.
The beauty of this world and the people in it have always been with us. You give us the power to see and smell and touch it. We are born of love, and it is love that carries us through.
Your son of Abbott. Amen!
IN GOD’S EYES
by Willie Nelson
Never think evil thoughts of anyone
It’s just as wrong to think as to say
For a thought is but a word that’s unspoken
In God’s eyes He sees it this way
Lend a hand if you can to a stranger
Never worry if he can’t repay
For in time you’ll be repaid ten times over
In God’s eyes He sees it this way
In God’s eyes we’re like sheep in a meadow
Now and then a lamb goes astray
But open arms should await its returning
In God’s eyes He sees it this way
In God’s eyes we’re like sheep in a meadow
Now and then a lamb goes astray
But open arms should await its returning
In God’s eyes He sees it this way
Hey, folks—here’s one that I’ve been carrying around in my back pocket for a while. It’s the letter everyone should write: the letter from you in all your life-found wisdom, written to the younger you, who in my case was more wiseacre than wise.
TO YOUNG BOOGER RED,
Hey, kid, I have a hell of a lot to tell you, but not much time to tell it. I was you once, when I was young and full of piss and vinegar. And now you are me, when I can’t piss and still don’t like vinegar. And that’s okay—after fifty, all men piss in Morse code, anyway.
We created our share of mischief, you and me. Good mischief I like to think. It’d be fun to hook up with some of the old pals and do it all over again. Zeke and Johnny, Waylon and Merle, have all moved on. If missing them would bring them back, I’d miss ’em the whole day long. But missing ain’t living, and living works best when you’re strong.
I don’t want to brag on you, kid, but you turned out okay. I know Mama and Papa and our parents are proud. When you wrote that first song, you saw that other ones might come too. And that’s the way I felt when I wrote my latest one. I don’t know what the next one will be, but I believe it’s gonna be good.
You and me—we had a feeling about reincarnation all along. It just made sense to us. That likely makes both of us a lot older than we know. The older I get, the better I feel about what we’ve accomplished by believing in the powers of love and music. I don’t know if we got it exactly right this time, but we gave it a damn good shot. And we’re teed up for another go-round, always striving to get it right.
We still have a lot in common. We both like a good joke, a good game of dominoes, and a good woman too. We didn’t know what a saddle felt like till it was strapped on. Or what we looked like till we had our picture took.
You thought you were a fast horse, but a fast horse can’t go far. Turns out we are a far horse, after all. Whaddaya say we continue our journey—riding double on a horse called Music as we take in a beautiful Texas sunset?
For now, but not forever, I’m signing off. For this is your old cotton-picking, snuff-dipping, tobacco-chewing, stump-jumping, gravy-sopping, coffeepot-dodging, dumpling-eating, frog-gigging hillbilly from Hill County . . .
Willie Nelson
P.S. Don’t forget to type.
GOIN’ HOME
by Willie Nelson
The closer I get to my home, Lord
the more I wanna be there
There’ll be a gatherin’ of loved ones and friends
Lord, you know I wanna be there
There’ll be a mixture of teardrops and flowers
crying and talking for hours
’Bout how wild that I was
And if I’d listened to them I wouldn’t be there
Well there’s old Charlie Toll
they threw away the mold when they made him
And Jimmy McCline it looks like
the wine’s finally laid him
And Billie McRae
that I could any day in a card game
And Bessie McNeal
but her tears are real I can see pain
There’s a mixture of teardrops and flowers,
crying and talking for hours
’Bout how wild I was, and if I’d listened to them
I wouldn’t be there
Lord, thanks for the ride
I got a feeling inside that I know you
And if you see your way
you’re welcome to stay
’Cause I’m gonna need you
There’s a mixture of teardrops and flowers,
crying and talking for hours
’Bout how wild I was, and if I’d listened to them
I wouldn’t be there
DEAR ROAD,
Well here I am, at the end of one road and eager to start down another. They used to say all roads lead to Rome, but they were wrong. All roads lead to another road.
As I finish my letters to America, I’m ready to stand up and get out there with my guitar and my voice and my Family Band and do what I do best. I’ve said it before, a thousand times, maybe ten thousand, and it always bears repeating.
I still can’t wait to get on the road again. ’Cause let’s face it, the life I love is making music with my friends, and wherever I go and whatever I do, I just can’t wait to be out there with you.
My drivers Tony and Gates have taken me down three million miles of you. They’ve truly seen it all. Likewise for LG and John, because we travel so far, the drivers have to work in shifts. I don’t see everything that passes by, but I feel you stretching out from sea to shining sea beneath our rolling wheels. I smell your fields in bloom and your cities, both shining and sometimes in gloom.
I love you when you take me home, but I love you more when you are stretched out in front of the bus as we make our way to some honky-tonk or concert hall, where people are coming together to hear me play. As I listen to the wheels on the pavement, I can see the faces of my audience, men and women, young and old, white, brown, black, and every shade in between. Americans at their best. Some are coming because they want to feel good and be lifted up, some to forget their troubles or heal their losses. All of them, I hope, are coming to celebrate love and to dance and sing along.
They’re waiting for me now. I see them. I hear them. I feel them deep inside. It won’t be long now, ’cause I just can’t wait to get on the road again.
Everybody sing!
Love,
Willie
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
by Willie Nelson
On the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin’ music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
On th
e road again
Goin’ places that I’ve never been
Seein’ things that I may never see again
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Like a band of gypsies
We go down the highway
We’re the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turnin’ our way
And our way
Is on the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin’ music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
PERMISSIONS
“America the Beautiful.” Lyric by Katherine Lee Bates, 1911 amended version. Public Domain Use.
“American Tune.” Words and Music by Paul Simon. Copyright © 1973 (Renewed) Paul Simon (BMI). International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC.
“Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground.” Copyright © 1978 Full Nelson Music. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Come On Time.” Words and Music by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon. Copyright © 2019 by Sony Music Publishing LLC and BMG Run Slow Music. All Rights on behalf of Sony Music Publishing LLC Administered by Sony Music Publishing LLC, 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. All Rights on behalf of BMG Run Slow Music Administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC. International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission of Sony Music Publishing, LLC and Hal Leonard LLC.
“December Day.” Copyright © 1968 Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Family Bible.” Copyright © 1980 Full Nelson Music. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Funny How Time Slips Away.” Copyright © 1961 Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Georgia On My Mind.” Words and Music by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell. Copyright © 1930 by Peermusic III, Ltd. Copyright Renewed. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
“Goin’ Home.” Copyright © 1971 Full Nelson Music. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Healing Hands of Time.” Copyright © 1964 Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Heartland.” Words and Music by Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. © Universal Tunes (SESAC), Heartland Music. Used by Permission – All Rights Reserved.
“Heaven and Hell.” Copyright © 1974 Full Nelson Music. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. 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 by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC.
“A Horse Called Music.” Written by Wayne Carson. Copyright © 1988 by Wayne Carson Music. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission of Wayne Carson Music.
“In God’s Eyes.” Copyright © 1961 Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“It’s Not Supposed to Be That Way.” © 1974 Full Nelson Music. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Lady Luck.” Words and Music by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon. Copyright © 2017 by Sony Music Publishing LLC and BMG Run Slow Music. All Rights on behalf of Sony Music Publishing LLC Administered by Sony Music Publishing LLC, 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. All Rights on behalf of BMG Run Slow Music Administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC. International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission of Sony Music Publishing, LLC and Hal Leonard LLC
“Love Just Laughed.” Words and Music by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon. Copyright © 2020 by Sony Music Publishing LLC and BMG Run Slow Music. All Rights on behalf of Sony Music Publishing LLC Administered by Sony Music Publishing LLC, 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. All Rights on behalf of BMG Run Slow Music Administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC. International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission of Sony Music Publishing, LLC and Hal Leonard LLC
“Me and Paul.” © 1971 Full Nelson Music. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Nightlife.” © 1962 Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC and Publisher(s) Unknown. All rights obo Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“On the Road Again.” © 1980 Full Nelson Music. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“One More Song to Write.” Words and Music by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon. Copyright © 2019 by Sony Music Publishing LLC and BMG Run Slow Music. All Rights on behalf of Sony Music Publishing LLC Administered by Sony Music Publishing LLC, 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. All Rights on behalf of BMG Run Slow Music Administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC. International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission of Sony Music Publishing, LLC and Hal Leonard LLC.
“Pretty Paper.” Copyright © 1962 Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Red Headed Stranger.” Words and Music by EDITH LINDEMAN and CARL STUTZ. © 1953 (Renewed) EMI FEIST CATALOG INC. Exclusive Print Rights Controlled and Administered by ALFRED MUSIC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission of ALFRED PUBLISHING LLC.
“Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.” Words and Music by Buddy Cannon, Willie Nelson, Michael McQuerry, Richard Alves, John Colgin, Ashley Wilson and Mark Reynolds. Copyright © 2012 Run Slow Music, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Act Five Music, Cotton Valley Worldwide Publishing, Songs of Mojo One, Colleywood Music and Uncle Mark My Words Music. All Rights for Run Slow Music Administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC. All Rights for Act Five Music Administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. All Rights for Colleywood Music Administered by Brice Music Group. All Rights for Cotton Valley Worldwide Publishing Administered by Bluewater Music Services Corp. All Rights for Songs of Mojo One Administered by Songs of Mojo, LLC. International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission of Alfred Music; Hal Leonard LLC; Brice Music Group; Bluewater Music Services Corp.; Songs of Mojo, LLC; and Uncle Mark My Words Music.
“Shotgun Willie.” Copyright © 1973 Full Nelson Music. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Something You Get Through.” Words and Music by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon. Copyright © 2018 Sony Music Publishing LLC and BMG Run Slow Music. All Rights on behalf of Sony Music Publishing LLC Administered by Sony Music Publishing LLC, 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. All Rights on behalf of BMG Run Slow Music Administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC. International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission of
Sony Music and Hal Leonard LLC.
“The Songwriters.” Copyright © 2006 Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, Mr. Bubba Music, Inc., and Publisher(s) Unknown. All rights obo Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC and Mr. Bubba Music, Inc. administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street Suite 1200, Nashville, Tennessee 37219. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
“Still Not Dead.” Words and Music by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon. Copyright © 2017 by Sony Music Publishing LLC and BMG Run Slow Music. All Rights on behalf of Sony Music Publishing LLC Administered by Sony Music Publishing LLC, 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. All Rights on behalf of BMG Run Slow Music Administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC. International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission of Sony Music Publishing, LLC and Hal Leonard LLC.
“Texas.” Copyright © 1989 Full Nelson Music. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“There Are Worse Things Than Being Alone.” Words and Music by WILLIE NELSON. © 1994 ACT FIVE MUSIC (BMI) and WARNER-TAMERLANE PUBLISHING CORP. (BMI). All Rights Administered by WARNER-TAMERLANE PUBLISHING CORP. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission of ALFRED PUBLISHING LLC.
“These Are Difficult Times.” Copyright © 1971 Full Nelson Music. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Three Days.” Copyright © 1962 Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC. All rights administered by Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC, 424 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Willie Nelson's Letters to America Page 14
