Tag: Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson: “Immigrant Eyes”

Willie Nelson has released a video for his cover of Guy Clark’s song “Immigrant Eyes.” The track appears on Nelson’s new album, Ride Me Back Home.

Clark’s original version of “Immigrant Eyes” appeared on his 1989 album Old Friends. But with immigration in the news, it is not difficult to understand why Nelson wanted to release his own version.

In the song, Clark remembers his immigrant grandfather. The song connects many of us to our immigrant heritage, which in turn connects us to today’s immigrants.

Sometimes when I looked in my grandfather’s immigrant eyes;
I saw that day reflected and couldn’t hold my feelings inside;
I saw started with nothing and working hard all of his life;
“So don’t take it for granted, ” said grandfather’s immigrant eyes;
“Don’t take it for granted, ” said grandfather’s immigrant eyes.

Ride Me Back Home (2019), which includes covers and three songs written by Willie Nelson, is available now.

What do you think of Willie Nelson’s new song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson Put Johnny Cash’s Poetry to Music

    Johnny Cash PoemsKris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson join forces to pay tribute to their late friend and former collaborator Johnny Cash.  In “Forever Words / I Still Miss Someone,” Kristofferson and Nelson take a final poem written by Johnny Cash and put it to music.

    Cash’s son John Carter Cash explained to Rolling Stone that after his father died in 2003, they found a folder of letters and poems.  Johnny Cash wrote the letters and poems in his old age after the death of his wife June Carter Cash.

    Among the sad poems was one called “Forever.”  The poem is about life going on and recognizing that “the trees that I planted are still young.”  Kristofferson and Nelson took the poem to create “Forever Words / I Still Miss Someone.”

    The track features Kristofferson’s reading of the poem and Nelson’s guitar.  In addition, they added an instrumental track from Cash’s 1958 song “I Still Miss Someone.”

    The video below shows Kristofferson and Nelson on the track.  And it also includes them talking about their deceased friend and former Highwayman colleague.  Check it out.

    “Forever Words / I Still Miss Someone” is the lead track on the upcoming album Johnny Cash: Forever Words. The album features Cash’s poetry interpreted musically by friends, family, and other artists, such as John Mellencamp, Rosanne Cash, Elvis Costello, Chris Cornell, Alison Krauss, Carlene Carter, The Jayhawks, and Brad Paisley.

    Forever Words hits stores and the Internet on April 6, 2018. An accompanying book, Forever Words: The Unknown Poems, has also been released.


    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Steve Earle & The Dukes Are Back: “So You Wannabe An Outlaw”

    Wannabe an Outlaw

    Steve Earle & The Dukes will be releasing a new album, So You Wannabe An Outlaw. While I have enjoyed Earle’s recent forays into folk and blues, I am excited to hear that the album will be a return to a focus on his country sound. The album is a tribute to the 1970s Outlaw sound of singers like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.

    Speaking of Willie Nelson, he also makes a guest appearance on the album, as do Miranda Lambert and Johnny Bush. So You Wannabe An Outlaw will hit stores and the Internet on June 16, 2017.

    For a preview of Earle’s Outlaw tribute, you may hear one of the new tracks below. Check out “Lookin’ for a Woman.”

    Another track from the new album is “Fixin’ to Die.” It has a harder edge with a rock sound.

    Finally, here is a live performance of the title track, “So You Wannabe an Outlaw.” This performance is from a Town Hall performance in New York City in December 2016. Note that Earle jokes about having Willie Nelson singing on the song. He did get Nelson to sing on the album version of the song.

    A deluxe version of the album will also include covers of songs by Nelson, Jennings, and Billy Joe Shaver. So keep your ear out for the upcoming June 16 release of So You Wannabe An Outlaw, and watch for Earle in the Dukes, who will be touring this summer.


    What is your favorite Steve Earle song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Willie Nelson Is “Still Not Dead”

    Willie Nelson God's Problem

    Willie Nelson celebrates his birthday with the release of a new album, God’s Problem Child.   One of the new tracks on the album is “Still Not Dead.”

    Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas on April 29, 1933 (although his birth certificate lists April 30 as his birth date).  Now in his 80’s, Nelson’s voice, phrasing, and guitar playing still combine for some wonderful songs.

    God’s Problem Child includes songs like “He Won’t Ever Be Gone,” a tribute to Merle Haggard written by Gary Nicholson.  The first single, “Still Not Dead,” is a fun laugh at mortality by a man often rumored to be dead.  Below is the official video for “Still Not Dead.”

    The album is full of solid songs that sound like classic Willie. NPR describes the new album as Willie Nelson reflecting “on this season of his life with a mischievousness and equanimity that already feels familiar coming from him.” God’s Problem Child hits stores and the Internet on April 28, 2017.

    What is your favorite Willie Nelson song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Willie Nelson Pays Tribute to the Gershwins

    Willie Nelson Gershwin

    Willie Nelson’s upcoming album pays homage to the songwriting brothers George and Ira Gershwin. Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin (2016) reminds us that Nelson’s acoustic guitar Trigger and his voice are two of the best friends a music standard can have.

    In 1978, Willie Nelson surprised many with his album devoted to the Great American Songbook, Stardust. But nowadays, nobody is really surprised when Nelson ventures outside classic country music in areas such as reggae, jazz, or blues.

    On songs such as “Summertime,” Willie Nelson proves he is still one of our great song interpreters with his version of the often-covered “Summertime.” Check out Willie and Trigger on “Summertime” below.

    The album features such classics as “I Got Rhythm” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” Below, is his new version of “Someone to Watch Over Me,” which he had previously covered with a different arrangement for Stardust.

    A few other singers join Nelson on a couple of the tracks. Cyndi Lauper joins Nelson on a playful “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off.” And Sheryl Crow helps out on “Embraceable You.” For a limited time, you may listen to songs from the album on NPR.

    Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin hits stores and the Internet on February 26, 2016.

    What is your favorite Willie Nelson cover of an American standard? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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