Categories: Music

Top 10 Songs by Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson has been a family favorite as long as I can remember. I don’t think I would be the huge Willie Nelson fan I am today if it wasn’t for long twelve hour family road trips every summer. As a child I can say that I honestly did not appreciate him, but what child would. As an adult I can appreciate Willie Nelson’s music for what it is: a unique blend of country music, story telling, and of course Willie’s unique voice.

Choosing a top ten list of Willie Nelson’s songs is surprisingly difficult. He has been producing music for multiple decades that have spanned three generations.

Here is my list of Top Ten Songs By Willie Nelson:

1. Georgia on My Mind – This song has been recorded by a number of different artists. Willie’s take is as heart felts as Ray Charles’ and makes me equally long for home. His voice is blunt and distinctive sounding. You almost don’t even hear the background music when you listen to it.

2. If You’ve Got the Money Honey I’ve Got the Time – Ok, now this song just epitomizes what Willie Nelson is all about. No one else can sing this honky tonk favorite better than the red headed stranger (a.k.a. Willie). I can just see him belting it out in bar after bar. The local men would be screaming along with him after a few beers, the ladies happy for a dance.

3. Uncloudy Days – Now, Willie Nelson sounds almost joyous in this song. I guess the name would reflect that. He belts out lyric after lyric and you can’t help but feel up beat after listening to this classic song.

4. On The Road Again – This is one of Willie Nelson’s most popular songs. I have to admit I have probably heard it about a million times and could even sing it in my sleep. This song is a must have on any list of top ten songs by Willie Nelson. It is the quintessential road song and should be the required background music for any family road trip.

5. Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys – This probably should have been number one on my list, but I just thought of it now. This song is a country favorite and the one beer song everyone must sing along with when played on the jukebox. Whether you live in the city or are country born and raised this is the ultimate Willie song,

6. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain – This song is only 2 minutes and 17 seconds long, which may account forwhy I often will replay it a couple times when ever I bust out my Willie CD’s. The song is a sad sounding short ballad that seems to reflect a quieter and more romantic side to Willie. He probably was the king of romance in his hey day and made many ladies swoon.

7. Good Hearted Woman – “She’s a good hearted woman in love with a good timing man.” Well, if Willie doesn’t know how to describe 90 % of the relationships in the world I don’t know who does. I love how he just says how it is, doesn’t dwell on it, and moves on. You can always count on a good Willie Nelson song to make a clear statement about how people really are.

8. Whiskey River – This is a good time song, sung by many a whiskey swilling individuals. Aptly is says “Whiskey river take my mind…don’t let the memories run dry,” or something like that. This song seems to nail that whiskey drunk feeling on the head. I always envision drunken phone calls when I hear this song. They didn’t have cell phone when this one was released, but I can just imagine drunken bar patrons hogging the pay phone booth wailing out their feeling over the phone.

9. Angel Flying to Close to the Ground – This is another somewhat sad ballad of Willy’s. It last 4 minutes and 23 seconds. I like this one because it is a sad sounding Willy, which is always welcome.

10. Heartbreak Hotel – Ok, Willy has his own version. It is a little weird to realize it, but Willie Nelson was out their pounding the pavement about the same time that Elvis was, you just didn’t hear of him a lot. His take on this song is completely different sounding than Elvis and I love it.