Please don't get the wrong idea. I don't think getting drunk to forget a lost love is a good idea. I've never even tasted whiskey. But I love this song. If it comes on while I am driving, I turn it up as loud as I can stand it. Willie Nelson, AKA The Red-Headed Stranger, is an extremely talented musician. Sure, he has his flaws. He's about 103 years old, smokes pot, and believes in reincarnation. (I know this because I read his autobiographical book The Tao of Willie.) But man, that guy can write a song and he can pick a guitar like nobody's business. In fact, the part of this song that I love the best is about halfway through when he and the band go on an extended instrumental section. One of my strongest, and least likely to be realized, dreams in life is to be able to play an instrument well enough to jam with Willie and the band in the middle of Whiskey River. Not only will I never be talented enough, I don't think they let just anyone get up there and play along. But when I am listening full-blast to that jam session while cruising along in my car, it's so perfect and speaks to my heart so clearly, it makes me want to cry tears of joy. I hear he opens all his concerts with this song. Maybe one day I'll get to see him in person. (Better get on that, before it's too late.) By the way, I have to thank Cody since he is the one that brought Willie Nelson into my life. Cody is a big-time fan. I used to tease him about it until I really started paying attention to Willie's songs and discovered their emotional charge. Willie has written lots of famous songs for other artists as well. Probably the most well-known is Crazy which was sung by Patsy Cline. I told you he is old. I always loved Crazy when I was growing up, but found out much later that he had written it. I think Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan are very similar. Both are expert song-writers with rough voices. But their voices are endearing in a folk sort of way. And both just keep on going. And going. And going. I guess you never retire if you are doing what you love most.
Whiskey River by Willie Nelson 1979
p.s. I just looked up Willie's discography. The guy has released 118 albums in his career. Dang! Check it out.
2 comments:
I've seen good ole Willie in concert. My college roomies and I wanted to do something outside of Abilene one Friday evening and the idea of country dancing at Billy Bobs came to mind. We headed out to FW and Willie was in concert that night! It was so crowded that night and we actually met some boys from ACU there and made some new friends. The singing was great!
Willis definitely is a classic. It took me a long time to get him and I love Country music - but now I do realize he is pretty great. Different certainly - but nonetheless talented.
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