Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton are among the many acts that will take part in a two-day concert honoring Willie Nelson. Dubbed “Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, A Star-Studded Concert Celebrating Willie’s 90th Birthday,” the shows will take place April 29 and 30, 2023, at the Hollywood Bowl.
Willie said in a press release, “I can’t think of a better way to spend my 90th Birthday than being surrounded by family, friends, and of course, the fans who made this all possible. It’s an honor to perform with such an incredible group of artists at such an iconic venue.”
“Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, A Star-Studded Concert Celebrating Willie’s 90th Birthday” includes performances by Willie Nelson, Allison Russell, Beck, Billy Strings, Bobby Weir, Charley Crockett, Chris Stapleton, Edie Brickell, Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Margo Price, Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Orville Peck, Particle Kid, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, The Chicks, The Lumineers, Tom Jones, Tyler Childers, Warren Haynes, and Ziggy Marley. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
Two-day packages for the general public go on sale Saturday, January 28, at 10 AM PT.
Nelson is the subject of a five-part documentary film on his extraordinary life that premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Willie is nominated for a 2023 Grammy for Best Country Album for his album A Beautiful Time. He continues to perform across the country while also headlining festivals, including Farm Aid, the July 4th Picnic, and his Outlaw Music Festival Tour. His next album, I Don’t Know A Thing About Love, is out on March 3.
Stapleton will also be joining Willie for his 2023 Outlaw Music Festival Tour; Nelson said in a statement, “The Outlaw Music Festival Tour has always been about family and friends coming together for a great day of music and fun, and with the amazing group of artists joining us, this year promises to be our most special Outlaw Tour to date. I just can’t wait to get back on the road again.”
The 19-date trek will kick off on June 24 at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis, Missouri, making stops in Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Dallas, and Pittsburgh before wrapping on September 23 at the Waterfront Music Pavilion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Willie Nelson: His 89 Best Songs For His 89th Birthday
89. The Willie Nelson Family – âI Saw The Lightâ from âThe Willie Nelson Familyâ (2021)
ShareThe âFamilyâ album sees Willie collaborating with his sons Lukas (who fronts the rock band Promise of the Real) and Micah (who fronts his own band, Insects Vs. Robots), his daughters Paula (a solo artist) and Amy (of the group Folk Uke) and his late sister Bobbie Nelson, who played piano in his band for decades. âI Saw The Lightâ is a timeless gospel song, but itâs given new gravitas when Willie sings it with his kids and sister.
88. The Highwaymen – âThe Devilâs Right Handâ from âThe Road Goes On Forever (1995)
ShareThe Highwaymen is arguably country musicâs most celebrated supergroup. It featured Willie, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson. This song, from their third and final album, is a cover of outlaw country icon Steve Earleâs classic; Jennings had previously covered it on his own. A warning about firearms, the lyrics include âMy very first pistol was a cap and ball Colt /Shoots as fast as lightnin' but it loads a might slow /It loads a might slow, and soon I found out /It'll get you into trouble but it can't get you out.â
87. Snoop Dogg featuring Willie Nelson – âSupermanâ from âDoggumentaryâ (2011)
ShareWe all know what Snoop and Willie have in common, so itâs not hugely surprising that theyâd get together to collaborate. But would a song featuring the two be a stunt, or worse, a car crash? âSupermanâ turned out pretty well, actually, which is why we included it here. Itâs not a hip-hop song: itâs just Willie singing and strumming guitar, Mickey Raphael on harmonica and Snoop singing his own verse. Both men sing about the hard realization that theyâre not invulnerable anymore.
86. âBorder Songâ from âRestoration: The Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupinâ (2018)
ShareAn early Elton John classic that has been covered by Aretha Franklin and Eric Clapton, among many others. Willieâs vocals donât match those singers, and he does strain a bit here, but itâs moving to hear him sing, âHoly Moses, let us live in peace, let us strive to find a way to make all hatred cease/thereâs a man over there/whatâs his color, I donât care/Heâs my brother, let us live in peace.â
85. Kacey Musgraves featuring Willie Nelson – âAre You Sure?â from âPageant Materialâ (2015)
ShareA hidden track on Musgravesâ âPageant Materialâ album, it shows that her love of Willie is more than just lip service. âAre You Sure?â is a pretty obscure track from Nelsonâs third album, 1965âs âCountry Willie: His Own Songs.â But Musgraves was praising the song in 2013 on social media, writing, âWillie Nelsonâs âAre You Sureâ â two minutes and 13 seconds of the realest sâ youâll ever hear. Never gets old. Thank you, Willie.â
84. Chris Young featuring Willie Nelson – âRose In Paradiseâ from âThe Man I Want To Beâ (2009)
ShareA cover of a 1987 Waylon Jennings song; Willieâs voice somehow works perfectly with Youngâs, bringing this classic to a new generation.
83. Kenny Chesney featuring Willie Nelson – âThat Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)â from âLucky Old Sunâ (2008)
ShareThe song was popularized by jazz great Louis Armstrong in 1949, and was later recorded by Ray Charles in 1963. Nelson himself covered it in the â70s, but thereâs a sweetness to this version, which sees Willie in his 70s, singing âFuss with my woman, toil for my kids/Sweat till I'm wrinkled and gray/While that lucky old sun got nothin' to do/But roll around heaven all day.â You can just picture Willie and Kenny singing it with their guitars on a beach somewhere.
82. âHe Was A Friend Of Mineâ from the âBrokeback Mountainâ soundtrack (2005)
ShareA cover of a traditional blues song from the 1930s, it definitely took a different meaning when used in âBrokeback Mountainâ: âHe was a friend of mine/Every time I think of him/I just can't keep from cryin'/'Cause he was a friend of mine.â
81. U2 featuring Willie Nelson and Mickey Raphael – âSlow Dancingâ (B-side of âIf God Will Send His Angelsâ CD single, 1997)
Share80. âBird On A Wireâ from âTower Of Song – The Songs Of Leonard Cohenâ (1995)
ShareLegendary singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen wasnât a country artist, but he said that he felt that âBird On A Wireâ is, in fact, a country song. Indeed, Willieâs fellow Highwayman Johnny Cash also covered this song, while Kris Kristofferson allegedly told Cohen that he was going to put the first few lines on his gravestone. And Willie sings them as good as anyone ever has: âLike a bird on the wire/Like a drunk in a midnight choir/I have tried in my way to be free.â
79. Frank Sinatra featuring Willie Nelson – âA Foggy Dayâ from âDuets IIâ (1994)
ShareSinatraâs âDuetsâ album brought him back to the pop charts at the age of 78 in 1993, and his team struck while the iron was hot, releasing the follow-up in â94. Sadly, Nelson and Sinatra didnât actually record this song together: they laid down their vocals at separate sessions. Still, Willieâs excitement about singing with Sinatra is clear on the song; heâd later pay tribute to the man on his albums âThatâs Lifeâ (2021) and âMy Wayâ (2018).
78. âOur Songâ from âFirst Rose Of Springâ (2020)
ShareWritten for Willie by Randy Houser, along with Allen Shamblin and Mark Beeson. Itâs a beautiful love song, about a man who meets a woman, falls in love and everything changes. And then: âThe last time he saw her /He knew everything had changed /He said goodbye and let the tears fall like rain /On the first rose of spring.â Whew: thatâs heavy.
77. âDelete and Fast Forwardâ from âGodâs Problem Childâ (2017)
ShareCo-written by Willie and producer Buddy Cannon. It sounds like vintage Willie but the lyrics are decidedly from our era: âDelete and fast-forward the news/The truth is the truth, but believe what you choose/When we blow the whole world back to where it began/Just delete and fast-forward again.â
76. âLast Man Standingâ from âLast Man Standingâ (2018)
ShareAnother Willie/Buddy Cannon co-write. Willie gets a bit self-conscious about his age, singing, âI don't wanna be the last man standing.â But then, he reconsiders: âOn second thought maybe I do/It's getting hard to watch my pals checkout/Cuts like a worn out knife.â
75. âSummertimeâ from âSummertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwinâ (2016)
ShareThere are a few elements that have always made Willie stand out from his country peers (other than his very distinctive singing and guitar playing). His Sinatra influence is not really typical in the genre, and that love of Sinatra led him to doing this album of Gershwin songs (most of which, Sinatra had covered). Itâs difficult to add your own touch to such iconic songs. âSummertimeâ dates back to the 1930s, but Willie makes it feel new. And he makes it feel like itâs his song.
74. Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard featuring Jamey Johnson – âItâs All Going To Potâ from âDjango and Jimmieâ (2015)
ShareFrom Willie and Merleâs sixth album together. Jamey Johnson co-wrote this song with producer Buddy Cannon and Larry Shell, but it sounded like Willieâs words. In the â60s, Merle sang âWe don't smoke marijuana in Muskogeeâ in his song âOkie from Muskogee,â but over the decades, Willie may have changed his mind about that. At any rate, the song is a blast.
73. âThe Scientistâ (single-only release, 2011)// later released as a bonus track on âHeroesâ (2012)
ShareOK, who predicted that Willie would cover a Coldplay classic for a Chipotle campaign? It sounds crazy, but it happened. It was for a short animated film called âBack To The Start,â which is still on Chipotleâs YouTube page. The film depicts the life of a farmer as he slowly turns his family farm into an industrial animal factory before deciding that he needed to return to his old methods (âgoing back to the startâ). It was very much the message that Willie has been preaching at Farm Aid for decades.
72. âMy Wayâ from âMy Wayâ (2018)
ShareOne of Sinatraâs most iconic songs, if not *the* most iconic. And, again, Nelson gives the song a new gravitas. Hearing him croon âAnd now the end is near/And so I face the final curtainâ is incredibly poignant. And if anyone deserves to sing âI did it my way,â itâs Willie.
71. âSatan Your Kingdom Must Come Downâ from âCountry Musicâ (2010)
ShareWillie has gone down several artistic paths over the decades, but on âCountry Music,â produced by T-Bone Burnett (the guy behind the âO Brother Where Art Thouâ soundtrack), Willie goes back to the roots of traditional country music. âSatan Your Kingdom Must Come Downâ is a 1931 song by South Carolina evangelist Blind Joe Taggart. There are lots of versions of this song, Willieâs is one of the most haunting.
70. âCome Rain Or Come Shineâ from âAmerican Classicâ (2009)
ShareFrom this dip into the âGreat American Songbook,â Nelson worked with producer Tommy LiPuma, whose resume included Barbra Streisand, Miles Davis and Al Jarreau, He used musicians from the jazz world on this album, giving it a very different feel. Not all of the songs on the album worked, but this song, popularized by Billie Holiday and Ray Charles, definitely did.
69. Willie Nelson featuring Calexico – âSenor (Tales of Yankee Power)â from âIâm Not There (Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack)â (2007)
ShareThis semi-fictional film based on Bob Dylanâs life (or lives) sported a soundtrack of Dylan covers by younger artists like Eddie Vedder, Jack Johnson and the Black Keys. But Willie, backed by Austin rock band Calexico, was one of the highlights. âSenorâ is one of Dylanâs weirdest and most mysterious songs, and Willie sings it perfectly.
68. âBubbles In My Beerâ from âYou Donât Know Me: The Songs Of Cindy Walkerâ (2006)
ShareAs the album title implies, Willieâs 2006 LP was a tribute to songwriter Cindy Walker⌠and weirdly, it was released just days before her death. She co-wrote this song with the legendary Bob Wills who recorded it with his Texas Playboys in 1947⌠three years before Hank Williams wrote âThereâs A Tear In My Beer.â Which is no shade to Hank: there are thousands of stories to tell about sad nights in bars. And no one sings them better than Willie.
67. âThe Rainbow Connectionâ from âRainbow Connection (2001)
ShareYes, Willie covers Kermit the Frogâs classic from 1979âs âThe Muppet Movie.â And yeah, the idea of Willie singing a âMuppetâ song sounds like a joke⌠until you hear it. In the 2000s, Willie explored a number of genres, including childrenâs music. But in his hands, this song feels like a Willie original.
66. Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis – âBright Lights, Big Cityâ from âTwo Men With The Bluesâ (2008)
ShareA live album recorded at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City (Wynton Marsalisâs home turf). The concert, and the live album, prove that the distance between jazz, the blues and country isnât really that far.
65. âGravediggerâ from âMoment of Foreverâ (2008)
ShareFrom Willieâs first album with Buddy Cannon; in fact, âMoment of Foreverâ was co-produced by Cannon and Kenny Chesney. This song is a cover of Willieâs fellow Farm Aid board member, Dave Matthews. Itâs one of Daveâs darker songs, and Willie makes it darker still.
64. Willie Nelson featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd – âTexas Floodâ from âMilk Cow Bluesâ (2000)
ShareWillie dipped into the blues on this 2000 album, and here, heâs joined by one of the big guitar heroes of modern blues, Kenny Wayne Shepherd. This song dates back to the 1950s, but was popularized in the â80s by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, and Kenny Wayneâs solo is a tribute to the late legend.
63. âThe Harder They Comeâ from âCountrymanâ (2005)
ShareâCountrymanâ - Willieâs reggae album - was probably Willieâs most ill-advised genre experiment of the 2000s. But this Jimmy Cliff classic, from the 1972 soundtrack of the same name, worked.
62. âMaria (Shut Up And Kiss Me)â from âThe Great Divideâ (2002)
ShareComing off of his success with Santanaâs âSmooth,â Matchbox Twentyâs Rob Thomas was a hotly sought-after songwriter. He wrote âMariaâ for Willie, and sings backup on the song (as well as tending bar in the video). Yes, it sounds like itâs squarely aimed at early 2000s VH1, but itâs a great song and Willie delivers it perfectly.
61. âVote âEm Outâ (YouTube-only release, 2018)
ShareWillie released this single as he was endorsing Beto OâRourkeâs 2018 Senate campaign in Texas. While the endorsement upset some of his fans, the song doesnât mention politicians or parties, and is really just a celebration of democracy: âIf you don't like who's in there, vote 'em out/That's what Election Day is all about/The biggest gun we've got/Is called âthe ballot boxâ/So if you don't like who's in there, vote 'em out!â
60. Willie Nelson featuring the Time Jumpers – âHeartaches By The Numberâ from âFor The Good Times: A Tribute To Ray Priceâ (2016)
ShareWillie pays tribute to his one-time mentor Ray Price, by doing songs that Price once covered. The Time Jumpers - a vintage-sounding country swing band featuring Vince Gill - gave the song a classic sound.
59. Willie Nelson and Asleep At The Wheel – âHesitation Bluesâ from âWillie and the Wheelâ (2009)
ShareIf you want to party like itâs 1949, Asleep At The Wheel is the right band to call, and their 2009 collaborative album with Willie is a blast. âHesitation Bluesâ kicked the party off.
58. âI Didnât Come Here (And I Ainât Leavinâ)â from âIt Always Will Beâ (2004)
ShareâIt Will Always Beâ is one of Willieâs most underrated albums - thereâs no theme and no stunt; itâs just Willie in peak form singing and playing great songs: some of which he wrote, and some, like this one, he didnât. Itâs a rowdy song about Willie making a mess of himself at a bar and then being asked to leave: âI didn't come here, and I ain't leavin'/I've been thrown into better places than this/I didn't come here, so I ain't leavin'/If you wanna pucker up I got just the place for you to kiss!â Maybe you can relate.
57. âI Never Cared For Youâ from âTeatroâ (1998)
ShareâTeatroâ is Spanish for theater, and this unique album saw Willie recording in an old movie theater; the sessions were produced by Daniel Lanois, who is well known for working with U2 and Bob Dylan. The album prominently featured Willieâs frequent collaborators Bobbie Nelson on piano and Mickey Raphael on harmonica, along with Emmylou Harris singing backing vocals. Willie first recorded âI Never Cared For Youâ in 1964, but this more seasoned version is an improvement on the original.
56. Willie Nelson and Ray Price – âRun That By Me One More Timeâ from âRun That By Me One More Timeâ (2003)
ShareIn 1960, Willie Nelson moved from Texas to Nashville to make it in country music, and got a gig as Ray Priceâs bassist (even though he wasnât really a bass player). Soon, Nelson eclipsed Price as a country music star. Twenty years later, in 1980, the two recorded a duo album. 23 years after that, they did the follow-up, a very traditional-sounding country album. The excellent title track was the albumâs highlight.
55. âWhat Was It You Wantedâ from âAcross The Borderlineâ (1993)
ShareAnother of Willieâs most underrated albums. âWhat Was It You Wantedâ was a Dylan song that was only four years old at the time, but Willie, assisted by producer Don Was, gave the song a swampy swagger.
54. âWhoâll Buy My Memoriesâ from âThe IRS Tapes: Whoâll Buy My Memoriesâ (1991)
ShareOriginally available only by mail order, the album featured just Willie and his guitar⌠no doubt to keep production costs down. As the title alludes to, the album was recorded to help pay Willieâs tax debt to the I.R.S. And while the song and album title is a bit on the nose, the song isnât about W2 or W4 forms. Itâs about the painful memories in the aftermath of a breakup: âA cottage small just built for two/A garden wall with violets blue/Who'll buy my memories of things that used to be?â
53. Carlos Santana featuring Willie Nelson – âThey All Went To Mexicoâ from âHavana Moonâ (1983)
ShareIt sounds like a happy, almost Jimmy Buffett-esque song. All of the narratorâs friends, his girlfriend and even his dog went to Mexico, but in this song, âMexicoâ seems to be a metaphor for the afterlife. âWhere's my pal, where's my friend/All good things must have an end,â he sings. âSad things and nothings/On and on they go/I guess he went to Mexico.â
52. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson – âWrite Your Own Songsâ from âWWIIâ (1982)
ShareWritten by Willie who is sort of flipping the bird to the music industry here: âWe write what we live and we live what we write, is that wrong?/If you think it is Mr. Music Executive/Why don't you write your own songsâŚWe're making you rich and you're already lazy/So just lay on your aâ and get richer or write your own songs!â
51. Willie Nelson with Waylon Jennings – âTake It To The Limitâ from âTake It To The Limitâ (1983)
ShareFrom the duoâs third album together. This song is a cover of the Eagles, one of the leaders of the âcountry-rockâ movement. The Eaglesâ Randy Meisner was a much younger man when he recorded it, and the song definitely hit differently when the older Nelson sang âYou know I've always been a dreamer /spent my life running âround/And it's so hard to change/Can't seem to settle down/But the dreams I've seen lately/Keep on turning out and burning out and turning out the same.â
50. Neil Young featuring Willie Nelson – âAre There Any More Real Cowboys?â from âOld Waysâ (1985)
ShareRock legend Neil Young went to Nashville in the â80s to make a legitimate country record, using local musicians and scoring guest appearances from Waylon Jennings, and on this song, his future Farm Aid co-founder Willie Nelson. The song poked fun at the âurban cowboyâ trend of the time, and paid tribute to the farmers who work to feed the country. He was specific about the cowboys that he was paying tribute to: âNot the one that's snortin' cocaine/When the honky-tonk's all closed/But the one that prays for more rain/Heaven knows/That the good feed/Brings the money/And the money buys the clothes/Not the diamond sequins/Shining on TV.â
49. The Highwaymen – âHighwaymanâ from âHighwaymanâ (1985)
ShareThis is a cover of a 1977 song by Jimmy Webb, but the Highwaymenâs version is the definitive one, and it became their signature song. The narrator is a soul who has lived many lives: a highwayman, a sailor, a construction worker on the Hoover Dam, and finally as a captain of a starship. In the song, Willie is the highwayman, Kris Kristofferson is the sailor, Waylon Jennings is the construction worker and Johnny Cash is the starship captain. Itâs the supergroupâs finest moment.
48. âCowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond Of Each Otherâ (single-only release, 2006)
ShareItâs a cover of a 1981 song by a little-known musician named Ned Sublette. Someone gave Willie a tape of the song in the â80s, and two decades later, he decided to record it. As Willie said, âI thought it was the funniest goddamn song I'd ever heard.â The lyrics include, âWell, a cowboy may brag about things that he's done with his women/But the ones who brag loudest are the ones that are most likely queer/Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each other/Say, what do you think all them saddles and boots was about?â Willie said, âI had [the tape] on the bus for 20 years, and people would come in and I'd play it. When âBrokeback Mountainâ come out, it just seemed like a good time to kick it out of the closet.â Willie told Time magazine, âEvery now and then somebody might get a little offended. It's got bad language in it, so I just don't do it in my shows⌠But you know, people are listenin' to it, likin' it. Every now and then somebody don't like it, but that's okay. Similar to years ago, when the hippie thing come out and I started growin' my hair and puttin' the earring in, I got a little flak here and there.â And hey, these days plenty of country guys have long hair and earrings. Willieâs just always been a bit ahead of his time.
47. âPlease Donât Tell Me How The Story Endsâ from âWillie Nelson Sings Kristoffersonâ (1979)
ShareA lot of people have cited Kris Kristofferson as an amazing songwriter, but Willie recorded a whole album of his songs to make the point (and of course, theyâd later be bandmates in the Highwaymen). And this song is a good example of why Kristofferson is so admired. He doesnât give too many details, but it seems to be about the end of a sweet affair: âThis could be our last goodnight together/We may never pass this way again/Just let me enjoy 'till itâs over /Or forever/Please don't tell me how the story ends.â
46. Willie Nelson and Leon Russell – âHeartbreak Hotelâ from âOne For The Roadâ (1979)
ShareNot *all* songs about heartbreak have to be sad, of course! This rollicking version of the Elvis Presley classic from Willie and Leon Russellâs album pretty much says, âOK, I get so lonely, I could die⌠but until that happens, Iâm gonna keep chasing women.â
45. âBlue Skiesâ from âStardustâ (1978)
ShareBy the late â70s, Willie had established himself as one of the faces of the outlaw country movement, so his record label must have been surprised by his idea to record an album of popular music standards. Indeed, his label didnât want him to do it, but Nelson was (and is) a true outlaw: he does what he wants. And in this case, he was right. âBlue Skies,â a cover of an Irving Berlin song from 1926, was his fourth #1 single on country radio.
44. âLoving Her Was Easier (Than Anything Iâll Ever Do Again)â from âWillie Nelson Sings Kristoffersonâ (1979)
ShareAnother devastatingly sad song about a breakup, delivered perfectly by Willie.
43. âTill I Gain Control Again (live)â from âWillie And Family Liveâ (1978)
ShareWritten by Rodney Crowell for Emmylou Harris, it was a #1 hit for Crystal Gayle in the â80s. But chart success aside, Nelsonâs live cover is the best version. Itâs a moving meditation on the need for solid friends/family/lovers. The lyrics ring so true it hurts: âOut on the road that lies before me now /There are some turns where I will spin /I only hope that you can hold me now/âTil I can gain control again.â
42. âGeorgia On My Mindâ from âStardustâ (1978)
ShareA 1930 Hoagy Carmichael song, the most famous version was done by Ray Charles in 1960. Clearly, Willie has never been intimidated by recording iconic songs. And even if his version isnât quite as great as Brother Rayâs, itâs still pretty incredible.
41. âIf Youâve Got The Money, Iâve Got The Timeâ from âThe Sound In Your Mindâ (1976)
ShareA 1950 hit for country legend Lefty Frizzell, it became Willieâs second country #1 single a quarter of a century later. And it remains one of Willieâs most joyous party jams.
40. âIâd Trade All Of My Tomorrows (For Just One Yesterday)â from âCountry Favorites – Willie Nelson Styleâ (1966)
ShareOne of Willie Nelsonâs many strengths is that he picks great songs: sometimes, he writes them himself. Sometimes, theyâre written for him. And sometimes he covers classics but puts his own spin on them. Thatâs the case with this weeper, written by Jenny Lou Carson.
39. âLast Thing I Needed, First Thing This Morningâ from âAlways On My Mindâ (1982)
ShareChris Stapleton recently recorded this one for his album, âFrom A Room: Vol. 1.â The song was written for Willie by Gary P. Nunn and Donna Farar, and Willie took it to #2 on the country charts. In the song, the bills are âpast due,â the narrator is going to be late to work, the house is falling apart. But, âThe last thing I needed, first thing this morning, is to have you walk out on me.â Ouch.
38. âFor The Good Timesâ from âWillie Nelson Sings Kristoffersonâ (1979)
ShareâDonât look so sad,â Willie sings. âI know itâs over.â Whew, Kristofferson was good at breakup songs. There are a lot of great versions of this one, including Kristoffersonâs own take, as well as soul legend Al Greenâs incredible version. Willieâs version holds up to both of them.
37. âDarkness On The Face Of The Earthâ from âAnd Then I Wroteâ (1962)
ShareFrom Willieâs debut album. Willie sounds like a kid, and the production here was way more âpopâ than what youâd expect but the real shocker was the photo of him on the cover: heâs clean-shaven and he has short hair! Hey, it was 1962. But Willie was getting an early start with heartbreak jams: âI stumbled through the darkness, my footsteps were unsure/I lived within a world that had no sunshine/When you left me darling, my world came to an end/And there was darkness on the face of the earth.â
36. âBloody Mary Morningâ from âPhases and Stagesâ (1974)
ShareWhile alcohol isnât the substance that Willie is most often associated with, this song is based on his own experience, as he wrote in his autobiography: ââBloody Mary Morningâ was another boozy song about this boozy period of my life. Its origins might be found in those days on the road when I was living a double life...I was a lousy drunk, a foolish drunk, a fighting drunk, a drunk who did himself much damage. But I was caught up in the culture of drinking. That's what country singers did, right? That's what pickers did. That was the life.â Thereâs a wild version of the song by country punkers the Supersuckers featuring Willie on lead guitar.
35. âIâll Love You Till The Day I Dieâ from âA Beautiful Timeâ (2022)
Share*Sixty-five years* after his debut single (1957âs âNo Place For Meâ), Willie is still putting out new music. As you may have noticed on this list, heâs done so at a pretty prolific rate: heâs put out over 30 albums this millennium. And this song, written for him by Chris Stapleton and Rodney Crowell, ranks as one of his best.
34. âItâs Not Supposed To Be That Wayâ form âPhases and Stagesâ (1974)
ShareâPhases and Stagesâ is a painful album, even by Willieâs standards: itâs a concept album that documents a divorce. Side one tells the story from the womanâs side, and side two was from the manâs perspective. âIt's not supposed to be that way/You're supposed to know I love youâ speaks to the importance of communicating in your relationship.
33. âSunday Morninâ Cominâ Downâ from âWillie Nelson Sings Kristoffersonâ (1979)
ShareA number one hit on the country charts in 1970 for Johnny Cash, Willie first recorded it in 1971, but this version from 1979 is his best take on the classic. Funny enough, Waylon Jennings also recorded a version in 1971. The lyrics are also funny⌠in a tragic way: âWell, I woke up Sunday morning/With no way to hold my head that didn't hurt/And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad/So I had one more for dessert.â
32. âSheâs Not For Youâ from âShotgun Willieâ (1973)
ShareA sad tale about a guy warning another guy about a girl⌠and it seems he knows her deal from experience: âPay no mind to her she only wants to play/She's not for you, she's not for you/And I'm the only one who would let her act this way.â
31. âThree Daysâ from âAnd Then I Wroteâ (1962)
Share30. âSad Songs And Waltzesâ from âShotgun Willieâ (1973)
ShareIn which Willie tells a woman who broke his heart that heâs writing a song about her. But, he notes, she neednât fear, for âsad songs and waltzes arenât selling this year.â
29. âMr. Record Manâ from âAnd Then I Wroteâ (1962)
ShareItâs a pretty âmetaâ song, about a sad lonely man listening to the radio⌠he hears a song that resonated with him. âThe man that I heard singing sound so blue and all alone/As I listen to his lonely song, I wonder could it be?/Could there somewhere be another lonely man?/Like me.â
28. âCity Of New Orleansâ from âCity Of New Orleansâ (1984)
ShareWritten and recorded by Steve Goodman in 1971, folk singer Arlo Guthrie recorded a version in â72, but Willieâs version in â84 is the definitive one, and it even topped the country charts that year.
27. âShotgun Willieâ from âShotgun Willieâ (1973)
ShareâShotgun Willieâ was Willieâs first album with Atlantic Records, and it was their first country release. Outside of the confines of a label who âknewâ country music, Willie had a bit more freedom. Many feel that âoutlaw countryâ started here. Willie sang âWell you can't make a record if you ain't got nothing to say/You can't play music if you don't know nothing to play.â Sixteen albums in, Willie still had a lot to say, but who could have predicted heâd still be knocking out records fifty years later!
26. âBlue Eyes Crying In The Rainâ from âRed Headed Strangerâ (1975)
ShareOriginally recorded in 1947 by Roy Acuff. But youâd be forgiven for thinking that itâs a Willie original since itâs one of his signature songs. The song topped the country charts for Nelson and was even a #21 hit on the pop charts.
25. âHello Wallsâ from âAnd Then I Wroteâ (1962)
ShareAnother early song that Willie wrote for Faron Young, who had a #1 hit with it. And yep, itâs another song for the dumped. After the narrator gets the bums rush, he has no one to talk to but the walls in his room. âHello window/Well I see that you're still here/Aren't you lonely/Since our darlin' disappeared?/Well, look here, is that a teardrop/In the corner of your pane?/Now don't you try to tell me that it's rain.â
24. Toby Keith featuring Willie Nelson – âBeer For My Horsesâ from âUnleashedâ (2002)
ShareWillieâs setlists are mostly made up of vintage tracks, this is one of the few jams from this millennium that has made it to the stage. Toby Keith was a huge star at the time, and he brought Willie back onto the country airwaves thanks to this #1 hit.
23. âPicture In A Frameâ from âIt Always Will Beâ (2004)
ShareA gorgeous cover of an underrated Tom Waits song from his 1999 album âMule Variations.â Lots of love songs are written from the perspective of young folks. But this song, co-written by Waits and his wife and collaborator Kathleen Brennan, has lyrics that are simple but are about a long-term relationship. The tremor in Willieâs voice hints that maybe the object of the narratorâs love is no longer with him. âI come callin' in my Sunday best/Ever since I put your picture in a frame.â
22. âAngel Flying Too Close To The Ground (live)â from âHoneysuckle Rose – Music From the Original Soundtrack (1980)
ShareEven if you havenât seen the film (which Nelson co-starred in), the song works, and itâs yet another heartbreaking line from Willie: âFly on, fly on past the speed of sound/I'd rather see you up than see you down/So leave me if you need to, I will still remember/Angel flying too close to the ground.â
21. Willie Nelson featuring Paula Nelson – âHave You Ever Seen The Rainâ from âTo All The GirlsâŚâ (2013)
ShareTalent runs in this family: Willieâs daughter Paula has a fantastic voice, and father and daughterâs voices work together perfectly on this downbeat version of the Creedence Clearwater Revival rocker.
20. Willie Nelson featuring Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson – âRoll Me Upâ from âHeroesâ (2012)
ShareWillie, Snoop, Kris and Jamey sound like theyâre having a blast here. Hmmm, what was going on in the studio that day? This is another rare new(ish) song that frequently makes Willieâs playlists. He has referred to it as a gospel song.
19. Willie Nelson featuring Bonnie Raitt – âGetting Over Youâ from âAcross The Borderlineâ (1993)
ShareAnother breakup song (as you may have gathered from the title). Here, Willie and Bonnie sing as if theyâre a couple. Willie sings, âWhy do I still write?/Why do I still call?/Why do I still think there's hope for us at all/These are the things I hate/But they're the things I do/To get over you.â Bonnie counters, âSunsets make me cry/Old pictures make me grin/But I don't really care to see your face again/These are the things I say/But they're so hard to do/Like gettin' over you.â Their distinctive guitars have their own sad conversation, but all voices involved seem to have accepted that the relationship is over.
18. Willie Nelson featuring Paula Nelson – âBe That As It Mayâ from âIt Always Will Beâ (2004)
ShareWritten for Willie by his daughter Paula. Not only does she have a great voice, but sheâs also a great writer: âItâs later than you think/Your whole life could change with or without me/A promise is a lie/With a prettier disguise/Like Iâll love you/For the rest of my life.â
17. Willie Nelson featuring Lukas Nelson – âJust Breatheâ from âHeroesâ (2012)
ShareLukas Nelson suggested this classic Pearl Jam ballad to his dad, and their duet version of the song works perfectly, and itâs even made Willieâs setlists a handful of times.
16. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson – âMammas Donât Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboysâ from âWaylon & Willieâ (1978)
ShareBy the late â70s, both Waylon and Willie were huge superstars, so putting them together on an album was a no-brainer. But this song, a cover of a singer named Ed Bruce, was the right tune with the right singers at the right time. It topped the country music charts for four weeks, while the album topped the country album charts for ten weeks.
15. âStay All Night (Stay A Little Longer)â from âShotgun Willieâ (1973)
ShareAnother instance where Willie took a classic from the fog of history and made it current; âStay All Nightâ was a 1945 song by Bob Wills, but became a favorite at Willieâs shows.
14. âTime Of The Preacherâ from âRed Headed Strangerâ (1975)
ShareThe opening track from Nelsonâs concept album about a fugitive on the run from the law after he killed his wife and her lover. After she left him, âHe cried like a baby/He screamed like a panther/In the middle of the night/And he saddled his pony/He went for a ride/It was the time of the preacher/In the year of '01/Now the preachin' is over/And the lesson's begun.â In 1986, a film was made based on the album, with Willie in the starring role. BTW: you can hear a wild version of the song from 1996, by Johnny Cash backed by Krist Novoselic of Nirvana, Kim Thayil of Soundgarden and Sean Kinney of Alice In Chains (itâs on YouTube).
13. âIt Always Will Beâ from âIt Always Will Beâ (2004)
ShareThe title track from Willieâs 52nd album. He wrote this one himself, showing that he was still a top-notch songwriter, four decades into his career.
12. Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson – âPancho and Leftyâ from âPancho & Leftyâ (1983)
ShareThe production on this one is very⌠well, it was obviously recorded in the â80s. But the song is so great, itâs easy to overlook the very âadult contemporaryâ sounding intro. The song is a cover of legendary songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Willie and Merleâs version topped the country charts, and even made it to #21 on the adult contemporary charts⌠so maybe they knew what they were doing with that production.
11. âWhiskey Riverâ from âShotgun Willieâ (1973)
ShareFirst written and recorded by Johnny Bush, itâs since become Willieâs song, and only Willieâs. Itâs one of his signature jams. Fun fact: it was the first song ever performed on the live music TV show âAustin City Limits.â
10. âAmerican Tuneâ from âAcross The Borderlineâ (1993)
ShareA cover of what might be Paul Simonâs finest solo song; Paul produced and played guitar on Willieâs version. Thereâs a lot on the narratorâs mind: âWe come on the ship they call The Mayflower/We come on the ship that sailed the moon/We come in the age's most uncertain hours/And sing an American tune.â But then he realizes how late it is: âYou can't be forever blessed/Still, tomorrow's going to be another working day/And I'm trying to get some rest.â
9. Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson – âTo All The Girls Iâve Loved Beforeâ from â1100 Bel Air Placeâ (1984)
ShareOk, hereâs one with some serious adult contemporary production, and yeah, it really worked here, too. It topped the country charts, but also was a number 5 pop hit and helped Iglesias cross over to an English-speaking audience.
8. âMe and Paulâ from âYesterdayâs Wineâ (1971)
ShareâYesterdayâs Wineâ was not a very successful album, and after the albumâs release, Nelson retired from music⌠temporarily, obviously. But one classic from the album was âMe and Paul,â Willieâs tribute to his drummer and touring companion, Paul English. Willie wrote in his memoir that the song âdescribed the road that my drummer and best friend, Paul English, and I had been riding together.â Sadly, English died in 2020.
7. âMaking Believeâ from âCountry Favorites – Willie Nelson Styleâ (1966)
ShareOriginally recorded by Kitty Wells in 1955, she had a #2 hit with the song. But it sounds like a Willie song; heâs pining over an ex-, lamenting, âCan't hold you close when you're not with me/You're somebody's love, you'll never be mine.â
6. Ray Charles and Willie Nelson – âSeven Spanish Angelsâ from âFriendshipâ (1984)
ShareIn the â80s, fans might have forgotten that Ray Charles was once one of the most popular country singers in America, two decades earlier. This duet with Willie, from Rayâs âFriendshipâ album, was a good reminder⌠and indeed, it topped the country charts.
5. âNight Lifeâ from âCountry Willie – His Own Songsâ (1965)
ShareAs the legend goes, Willie sold the song to his guitar teacher for $150, and the song was rejected by a record label for not being âcountry enough.â It was a preview of issues with the music industry that Nelson would have for decades to come. The guy who rejected it, of course, is but a footnote, while âNight Lifeâ is a classic, and it has since been covered by Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, and Frank Sinatra.
4. âCrazyâ from âAnd Then I Wroteâ (1962)
ShareThe song that put Willie on the map: he wrote it for Patsy Cline, who had a massive hit with it in 1961. Itâs since gone on to become one of the most iconic songs in popular music history.
3. âAlways On My Mindâ from âAlways On My Mindâ (1982)
ShareAnother classic that you might have thought Willie wrote. Nope: it was written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, and both Brenda Lee and Elvis Presley recorded it before Willie did. But with due respect to both of those legends, Willie owns this song. B.B. King told this writer that Willieâs version is his favorite song of all time.
2. âFunny How Time Slips Awayâ from âAnd Then I Wroteâ (1962)
ShareAnother of Willieâs early classics. He wrote it, but the original version was recorded by a singer named Billy Walker, who had a #23 hit with it. Apparently, Patsy Cline wanted it to be her follow-up to âI Fall To Pieces,â and she ended up âsettlingâ for âCrazyâ instead. Anyway, the version of âFunny How Times Slips Awayâ that we love is Willieâs. But Al Green, Tina Turner, the Supremes and Elvis Presley have all done good covers.
1. âOn The Road Again (live)â from âHoneysuckle Rose – Music From The Original Soundtrackâ (1980)
ShareThe man has played over 2300 concerts in his lifetime; this song is his anthem. The life he loves really *is* making music with his friends. Nelson wrote the song for the film âHoneysuckle Rose,â which he starred in. The movie is about an aging musician who never quite hits the big time; itâs also about his relationship with his family, who are part of his band ⌠and they are on a seemingly endless tour. So the role wasnât a stretch. Willie wrote the song at the request of one of the filmâs producers, who asked for a song about life on the road. They were on a flight at the time, and according to legend, Nelson wrote the song on a barf bag.