Willie Nelson is a stone-cold music legend, writing and performing hits for greater than seven a long time.
Now 90, he stays as energetic as ever, touring, recording and, on the cusp of his induction into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame on Nov. 3, releasing a brand new e book. Vitality Follows Thought: The Tales Behind by My Songs, on sale Oct. 31, finds a reflective, unfiltered Nelson wanting again by way of his profession and candidly sharing the tales behind 160 of his best hits and favourite deep cuts.
Amongst these included is arguably Nelson’s best-known observe: “On the Highway Once more,” the tune he wrote for the 1980 movie Honeysuckle Rose devoted to the touring life — and his de facto theme music. Under, in Yahoo Leisure’s unique excerpt from Vitality Follows Thought, Nelson reveals the origin story behind the earworm that received the Grammy Award for Finest Nation Track and was nominated for the Oscar for Finest Authentic Track.
Take it away, Willie…
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On the highway once more
Simply cannot wait to get on the highway once more
The life I like is making music with my mates
And I am unable to wait to get on the highway once more
On the highway once more
Goin’ locations that I’ve by no means been
Seein’ issues that I’ll by no means see once more
And I am unable to wait to get on the highway once more
On the highway once more
Like a band of gypsies we go down the freeway
We’re the very best of mates
Insisting that the world preserve turning our approachAnd our approach
Is on the highway once more…
If somebody requested me to put in writing an anthem, I would freeze. That is approach above my pay grade. An anthem is just too severe for me. I consider “The Star-Spangled Banner” or “America the Stunning.” And but…
In 1980, I bought high billing in a film, Honeysuckle Rose. I had no illusions about my performing chops. Slim Pickens, one of many costars, mentioned it finest: “Nobody performs Willie Nelson higher than Willie Nelson.”
At one level through the manufacturing, I used to be on a non-public airplane with producer Sydney Pollack and director Jerry Schatzberg.
“The film wants a music,” mentioned Sydney.
“A love music?” I requested.
“It would be higher to put in writing one thing about being on the highway.”
Off the cuff, I scribbled down some phrases and browse them out loud: “On the highway once more … cannot wait to get on the highway once more.
Sydney did not look thrilled. “The place’s the melody?” he requested.
“Simply across the nook,” I mentioned. “It will be right here very quickly.”
Sydney nonetheless wasn’t thrilled. Per week later, although, when the melody confirmed up, Sydney was glad
The music bought so huge that when Honeysuckle Rose aired on TV, they retitled the movie On the Highway Once more.
With out understanding or making an attempt, in a couple of little strains I would written the story of my life.
Watch the opening of Honeysuckle Rose with Nelson and band performing “On the Highway Once more”:
Excerpted from Vitality Follows Thought: The Tales Behind My Songs by Willie Nelson with David Ritz and Mickey Raphael, revealed by William Morrow. Copyright © 2023 by WN Household Partnership, Ltd. Reprinted courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers.
Vitality Follows Thought is accessible Tuesday, Oct. 31 at Amazon and different booksellers.
