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It's a Long Story: My Life
The definitive autobiography of Willie Nelson
This is the unvarnished, complete story of Willie Nelson's life, told in his distinct voice and leaving no moment or experience unturned, from Texas and Nashville to Hawaii and his legendary bus.
Having recently turned 80, Nelson is ready to shine on a light on all aspects of his life, including his drive to write music, the women in his life, his collaborations, and his biggest lows and highs-from his bankruptcy to the founding of Farm Aid.
An American icon who still tours the country and headlines music festivals, Willie Nelson and his music have found their way into the hearts and minds of fans the world over, winning ten Grammys and receiving the Kennedy Center Honors. Now it's time to hear the last word about his life-from the man himself.
This is the unvarnished, complete story of Willie Nelson's life, told in his distinct voice and leaving no moment or experience unturned, from Texas and Nashville to Hawaii and his legendary bus.
Having recently turned 80, Nelson is ready to shine on a light on all aspects of his life, including his drive to write music, the women in his life, his collaborations, and his biggest lows and highs-from his bankruptcy to the founding of Farm Aid.
An American icon who still tours the country and headlines music festivals, Willie Nelson and his music have found their way into the hearts and minds of fans the world over, winning ten Grammys and receiving the Kennedy Center Honors. Now it's time to hear the last word about his life-from the man himself.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2015
1177 people are currently reading
10988 people want to read
About the author
Willie Nelson
131 books331 followersWillie Hugh Nelson is an American singer-songwriter and actor. He is widely regarded as one of the most beloved and notorious country music singers. He reached his greatest fame during the so-called "outlaw country" movement of the 1970s, but remains iconic, especially in American popular culture. In recent years he has continued to tour, record, and perform, and this, combined with activities in advocacy of cannabis, as well as a well-publicized 2006 arrest for cannabis possession, have made him the subject of renewed media attention.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,213 reviews
December 11, 2019
I wasn't always a Willie Nelson fan, though I did know who he was, what he sang. This changed over 30 years when I first saw him perform in Farm-aid. It was a cause close to my heart and since my husband was a huge devotee of his music, I too listened to his music. The Highwaymen and their music, which I loved, close the deal. I knew, though, few facts about his life. His pot smoking, his troubles with the IRS, other vague items. In this book I learned much more.
He is a complicated person, like many of us are, his belief system questioning, his love of music, his talent for song writing all parts of what makes Willie, Willie. His personal life often one of confusion, his many children, his wanting to be a good father despite being on the road, more and more. As I said complicated. He has regrets, but has done much good, for many causes, and this too, this caring about issues, I justices is also a part.
When I read a memoir, I try to decide if I now knew this person, professionally and personally better than before. After reading this, I felt as if I did. Did I like everything I read? No, but I applaud his attempt to be open and honest, and I'm glad to have gotten to know him a little better. I watched the YouTube video of his song with Merle, Poncho and Lefty, more than once after this read. It is one of my favorites.
The narration was wonderfully performed by Christopher Ryan Grant.
He is a complicated person, like many of us are, his belief system questioning, his love of music, his talent for song writing all parts of what makes Willie, Willie. His personal life often one of confusion, his many children, his wanting to be a good father despite being on the road, more and more. As I said complicated. He has regrets, but has done much good, for many causes, and this too, this caring about issues, I justices is also a part.
When I read a memoir, I try to decide if I now knew this person, professionally and personally better than before. After reading this, I felt as if I did. Did I like everything I read? No, but I applaud his attempt to be open and honest, and I'm glad to have gotten to know him a little better. I watched the YouTube video of his song with Merle, Poncho and Lefty, more than once after this read. It is one of my favorites.
The narration was wonderfully performed by Christopher Ryan Grant.
June 15, 2015
I enjoyed this narration of Willie Nelson's autobiography! I'm not a fan of most country music, but I find Willie to be an interesting man full of contradictions, so this audio book appealed to me.
I learned a lot about Willie and his life, much of which I did not know. For instance, Willie is a very spiritual man. (Despite this spirituality, he has had a difficult time being a faithful husband. There's one of those contradictions I mentioned above.) He loves and practices martial arts. He wrote the song "Crazy", that most people associate with Patsy Cline.
I also learned more about the things that I already knew: Willie loves his weed. Both of his parents died of lung cancer, and despite Willie's smoking weed all the time, he's still going strong in his 80's. Willie supports the family farmer and he supports them not only with his money, but with his time. He also loves this earth and supports lots of endeavors to save and preserve her. Willie is a true and loyal friend, who did not dish the dirt on his fellow performers as much as he could have. He would just say things like "Waylon loved his cocaine", and leave it at that.
I learned a lot, I enjoyed listening and what more could I ask from an audio book? The narration was excellent and I enjoyed the life that Mr. Ryan brought to Willie's stories.
If you like Willie, or even if you would only like to learn more about him, I highly recommend this audiobook!
I learned a lot about Willie and his life, much of which I did not know. For instance, Willie is a very spiritual man. (Despite this spirituality, he has had a difficult time being a faithful husband. There's one of those contradictions I mentioned above.) He loves and practices martial arts. He wrote the song "Crazy", that most people associate with Patsy Cline.
I also learned more about the things that I already knew: Willie loves his weed. Both of his parents died of lung cancer, and despite Willie's smoking weed all the time, he's still going strong in his 80's. Willie supports the family farmer and he supports them not only with his money, but with his time. He also loves this earth and supports lots of endeavors to save and preserve her. Willie is a true and loyal friend, who did not dish the dirt on his fellow performers as much as he could have. He would just say things like "Waylon loved his cocaine", and leave it at that.
I learned a lot, I enjoyed listening and what more could I ask from an audio book? The narration was excellent and I enjoyed the life that Mr. Ryan brought to Willie's stories.
If you like Willie, or even if you would only like to learn more about him, I highly recommend this audiobook!
October 5, 2015
I love music, but I usually find music books dry and boring. There are exceptions. Keith Richards Life is one, in part due to the fact that Richards' own distinctive voice is always there throughout the book. Willie Nelson also has one of the most distinctive voices out there, and that's what you'll find in his book. But Willie has lived a long life (much longer than the indestructible Rolling Stone), and I found as I got closer to the present that Willie was having to cover a lot of ground, and years, quickly. Given the loose, conversational style of the book, you know you're missing a lot of good stuff. But there's still plenty to enjoy, and when you read through Willie's early years (the best part of the book), you'll read a story not just about a young singer-songwriter (and husband and father) struggling to make it, but also a story of a different America, one that seems more and more distant as these great old singers leave the stage. You want this book to be longer, probably because you want to hear Willie tell one more tale, and sing one more song. We must be thankful for what we have. This late-life book is a gift to his fans.
January 21, 2019
This is a great book all about Willy Nelson's life. It is a very humorous account. It is also very touching in places.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Steven
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Steven
September 1, 2015
I almost didn't think I was going to finish this. It started off strong, but really started dragging for me just waiting for Willie's career to start taking off. He seems to have hit his stride when he was much older, but the book doesn't go into too much detail. This is more like a memoir and not an autobiography. There's a lot of reminiscing going on as opposed to a more linear narrative of his life and career.
Despite all that, Willie comes across as such a likable guy. He has lived a good life, loved plenty, makes a living doing what he loves, and genuinely seems to be happy with the road he's travelled. I admire him for doing things his way, loving his kids and family and friends, and being a spiritual person.
Despite all that, Willie comes across as such a likable guy. He has lived a good life, loved plenty, makes a living doing what he loves, and genuinely seems to be happy with the road he's travelled. I admire him for doing things his way, loving his kids and family and friends, and being a spiritual person.
October 23, 2022
Oct 21, 845am ~~ Review asap.
1110am ~~ After reading the autobiography of Waylon Jennings recently of course I had to investigate Willie Nelson! He is another artist I have known about forever but nothing much beyond the basics.
This book was a deeper dive, and felt very much like a visit with the man himself, even though he did have help from David Ritz. The story was personal, touching, interesting, sometimes a bit raw (be prepared for salty language every so often) and revealing.
I never knew before about Nelson's spiritual depth. I knew he cared about the world and about the people in it, but I learned that he is an old soul, and a man who was not afraid to challenge himself to grow, to think beyond the apparent limits of daily life.
I had listened to Willie's latest album before I started to read, and I just love not only the songs on it but the fact that he released it in April of this year (2022) just in time for his 89th birthday. And the day I was listening he was performing in concert in San Diego California. How cool is that?!
While listening to that album I got a little emotional because even though I knew about Willie all of my life, I never realized what a treasure he is. I felt a little ashamed of myself for that, still do. But at least I know and understand him better now, thanks to that album and this book.
Thank you, Willie, for daring to be yourself for all of these years, for your joy, for sharing your talent with us all.
I Don't Go To Funerals, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_-J_...
1110am ~~ After reading the autobiography of Waylon Jennings recently of course I had to investigate Willie Nelson! He is another artist I have known about forever but nothing much beyond the basics.
This book was a deeper dive, and felt very much like a visit with the man himself, even though he did have help from David Ritz. The story was personal, touching, interesting, sometimes a bit raw (be prepared for salty language every so often) and revealing.
I never knew before about Nelson's spiritual depth. I knew he cared about the world and about the people in it, but I learned that he is an old soul, and a man who was not afraid to challenge himself to grow, to think beyond the apparent limits of daily life.
I had listened to Willie's latest album before I started to read, and I just love not only the songs on it but the fact that he released it in April of this year (2022) just in time for his 89th birthday. And the day I was listening he was performing in concert in San Diego California. How cool is that?!
While listening to that album I got a little emotional because even though I knew about Willie all of my life, I never realized what a treasure he is. I felt a little ashamed of myself for that, still do. But at least I know and understand him better now, thanks to that album and this book.
Thank you, Willie, for daring to be yourself for all of these years, for your joy, for sharing your talent with us all.
I Don't Go To Funerals, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_-J_...
June 2, 2015
There’s a great story in the life and times of country crooner, Willie Nelson. After all, in this rebel’s 82 years there have been wild fights, habitual drug use/ heavy drinking and extensive infidelity; as well as writing some of the most beloved and enduring songs in music history.
Unfortunately this great story is not told in his new autobiography: It’s a Long Story: My Life. Like two mobsters aimlessly straying into the wooded and snow-covered Pine Barrens of South Jersey, all the interesting parts of Nelson’s story get lost and misplaced.
Nelson’s narrative is told in a folksy manner, as if Willie himself is telling you his anecdotes around the dinner table in between bites of fried chicken and sweet potato pie. But while he might lightly hit upon some points of interest (such as two-timing his wives) these are covered in a slick gloss like the glazed donut I am now eating, These events are then quickly squirreled away never to be revisited.
One of the more interesting stories about Nelson occurred when he came home inebriated after stepping out with one of his many girlfriends. His wife at the time, at her wit’s end, proceeded to sew up the sloshed and now snoring Nelson in his bed sheet and then beat him mercilessly with a wooden broom handle. This story was told in interviews with Nelson, not in his book. It’s a Long Story spends perhaps a paragraph or so on the subject of how he treated his wives.
If you are interested in how he wrote many of his popular songs (such as a little number known as Crazy, made big by the chanteuse Patsy Cline) they pretty much all were composed like this: he was feeling a little blue, a tad down in the dumps and then was driving around and they just came to him. The end. Instead of interesting or provocative tales, Nelson spends the lion’s share of his book talking about his years growing up and his ranches.
It is all a little frustrating. It is like speaking to Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903 and instead of talking about air flight, they want to just tell you about their mother’s fantastic spaghetti sauce. “Yes, Orville, I understand Mumsy’s Sunday gravy uses Roma tomatoes, but let’s discuss your controlled, powered, and sustained heavier than air—no, I already ate. Kitty Hawk, let’s talk about—put that spoon down Wilbur.”
Willie Nelson comes off as likable and headstrong, smart and talented. He is definitely a character that I would like to know better. Regrettably I will have to wait for another book to do so.
November 30, 2017
Willie Nelson, My Life, It’s a Long Story is an autobiography written by Willie Nelson. This is the audiobook version by Hatchette Group. The narrator is Christopher Ryan Grant.
I have always loved Willie Nelson‘s music but I knew nothing about the man. Now I do. The image I had of Willie was that of a carousing, whiskey drinking partier and last of all, a singer. I couldn’t of been more wrong. Willie Nelson is a poet, an artist, songwriter and musician, entertainer, business man and philanthropist. Of course he did drink a little whiskey and caroused a little and partied a lot. But Willie Nelson was true to himself and to his friends and family.
Willie wrote and performed his own music, his own way. He also wrote songs that other artists performed like Roy Orbeson’s “Pretty Papers” and Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”. He wrote and recorded with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Ray Charles, Booker T and the MG’s, Merle Haggard, Leon Russel and many others. If you are like me and like his music, read this book. You won’t be sorry.
I have always loved Willie Nelson‘s music but I knew nothing about the man. Now I do. The image I had of Willie was that of a carousing, whiskey drinking partier and last of all, a singer. I couldn’t of been more wrong. Willie Nelson is a poet, an artist, songwriter and musician, entertainer, business man and philanthropist. Of course he did drink a little whiskey and caroused a little and partied a lot. But Willie Nelson was true to himself and to his friends and family.
Willie wrote and performed his own music, his own way. He also wrote songs that other artists performed like Roy Orbeson’s “Pretty Papers” and Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”. He wrote and recorded with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Ray Charles, Booker T and the MG’s, Merle Haggard, Leon Russel and many others. If you are like me and like his music, read this book. You won’t be sorry.
June 30, 2018
“When it’s on us, seems like the storm will never pass. But it always does.”
I’m not some massive Willie Nelson fan, but I enjoyed the hell out of his story. Prior to this, I was not familiar with his early career at all. I didn’t realize he was such a prolific songwriter. His long career and tumultuous personal life are definitely worth your time. It will surprise no one that he’s an amazing storyteller.
I’m not some massive Willie Nelson fan, but I enjoyed the hell out of his story. Prior to this, I was not familiar with his early career at all. I didn’t realize he was such a prolific songwriter. His long career and tumultuous personal life are definitely worth your time. It will surprise no one that he’s an amazing storyteller.
October 24, 2022
A fantastic way to get to know Willie! It's no surprise that a grade A songwriter would turn out a top-notch autobio. This comprehensive overview of Nelson's life is chock-a-block full of wild tales of the country music west. I listened to many of his albums while reading this book and was enthralled by the stories and characters he brings to life in both mediums. Do yourself a favor and get to know Willie! He's a helluva guy!
April 8, 2020
5 stars. This was a fantastic read! I listened to this on audiblebooks and I love the way it was done. It also included a PDF file with extra pictures. I'm glad Willie Nelson wrote his own life story so that all the facts were in his own words just the way he remembers all of them. In his 80's now, he has lived a long, full music filled life with his large family and many acquired good friends and wanted to share all his experiences with everyone. I'm glad he did it "his" way, the same way he always lived his life. It's crazy how much the narrator sounds like Willie in the audiobook too! Willie's Life Story was such an excellent book, I recommend this one, it's very down to earth and enjoyable, so don't miss out.
May 21, 2021
The book details American singer-songwriter Willie Nelson's life, starting with his upbringing in Abbott, Texas, followed by his start as a musician and his progression on the business from a becoming a famed songwriter to his transition to stardom. I loved this book. As I've been a BIG fan of Willie for a very long time...even more so now. Love the guy, and I know that he doesn't
Initially titled I Didn't Come Here and I Ain't Leaving: The Autobiography of Willie Nelson, the book was co-written with author Bud Shrake and it was published by Simon & Schuster in 1988. During the time of its release, on an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer Nelson admitted that he regretted the inclusion of the anecdote of smoking marijuana on the rooftop of the White House with a member of the Carter administration that he refused to name. He expressed that he did not regret the action, but that he did not want to include it in the autobiography. Nelson declared "it was a dumb thing to do, first of all, and a dumber thing to let get into the book. It wasn't something I was proud of.
This book had almost no surprises. Having grown up with the music of Willie Nelson, my impressions of him, about his life, his lifestyle, and his music were formed by what I heard and saw. He confirmed all my beliefs and impressions of him in this book. No surprises.
He champions marijuana. No surprises. He has had tumultuous personal relationships and marriages. No surprises. It is evident through his music that there is an overall sense of sadness and depression in his life. It might seem strange to note his claims that he is overall optimistic, but that also makes sense. His early career was marked by refusals of producers to support his musical style and choices. To meet these refusals with continued efforts to find musical outlets while at the same time supporting himself by working at distinctly non-musical jobs, such as a door-to-door salesman for various products indicates optimism and self-confidence.
His musical style, the storytelling style, is the story. As he details country music legends who influenced him, the reader can see that Nelson is a great synthesizer, combining all the styles he loves and adding his personal twist. That is one part of the story. Then there is the financial part with his battle at the IRS. A third story is his role as a songwriter for so many others, a role that led to many friendships such as when he wrote “Crazy” for Patsy Cline. Finally there is the story of a man with a strong sense of faith, a fair and honest man who never the less leads an exuberant bad boy lifestyle.
There are no spoilers, no surprises, this is just a pleasant read that affirms what many knew about this great singer and songwriter. Loved it and recommend it!!
Initially titled I Didn't Come Here and I Ain't Leaving: The Autobiography of Willie Nelson, the book was co-written with author Bud Shrake and it was published by Simon & Schuster in 1988. During the time of its release, on an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer Nelson admitted that he regretted the inclusion of the anecdote of smoking marijuana on the rooftop of the White House with a member of the Carter administration that he refused to name. He expressed that he did not regret the action, but that he did not want to include it in the autobiography. Nelson declared "it was a dumb thing to do, first of all, and a dumber thing to let get into the book. It wasn't something I was proud of.
This book had almost no surprises. Having grown up with the music of Willie Nelson, my impressions of him, about his life, his lifestyle, and his music were formed by what I heard and saw. He confirmed all my beliefs and impressions of him in this book. No surprises.
He champions marijuana. No surprises. He has had tumultuous personal relationships and marriages. No surprises. It is evident through his music that there is an overall sense of sadness and depression in his life. It might seem strange to note his claims that he is overall optimistic, but that also makes sense. His early career was marked by refusals of producers to support his musical style and choices. To meet these refusals with continued efforts to find musical outlets while at the same time supporting himself by working at distinctly non-musical jobs, such as a door-to-door salesman for various products indicates optimism and self-confidence.
His musical style, the storytelling style, is the story. As he details country music legends who influenced him, the reader can see that Nelson is a great synthesizer, combining all the styles he loves and adding his personal twist. That is one part of the story. Then there is the financial part with his battle at the IRS. A third story is his role as a songwriter for so many others, a role that led to many friendships such as when he wrote “Crazy” for Patsy Cline. Finally there is the story of a man with a strong sense of faith, a fair and honest man who never the less leads an exuberant bad boy lifestyle.
There are no spoilers, no surprises, this is just a pleasant read that affirms what many knew about this great singer and songwriter. Loved it and recommend it!!
August 24, 2018
Great music memoir and part of it is because Nelson has no bitterness and no axes to grind (even with the IRS!). It’s a positive and honest look back at his highs and lows. Lots of great stories. I love books that cause you to constantly stop and go listen to something in a new way, or for the first time. Recommended if you are already a fan of Willie.
My favorite parts -
- The man responsible for breaking him out of a Bahamian jail.
- How “Pancho and Lefty” got recorded.
- The way he describes how he found out he was a great writer.
- His writing process for “Hello Walls.”
My favorite parts -
- The man responsible for breaking him out of a Bahamian jail.
- How “Pancho and Lefty” got recorded.
- The way he describes how he found out he was a great writer.
- His writing process for “Hello Walls.”
June 13, 2015
There's a line in an old Merle Haggard song, 'Footlights', that could almost have been written with Willie Nelson in mind: “I live the kind of life most men only dream of / I make my living writing songs, and singing them.”
Willie, of course, needs no introduction. His face and loose-living image is known the world over, and his songs have become anthems for the lovelorn and dispossessed, delivered straight to the listener's heart in that utterly distinctive and expressive baritone, the very definition of a lived-in voice, as crumpled, scratched and weather-beaten as the Texas landscapes that he loves so much. At 82 years old, after several decades of hits, he has more than earned his vaunted status as a bona fide American icon.
Yet his journey to success has been fraught with difficulties, from his impoverished roots and half a lifetime of scraping a living as a no-name music-scene hustler, through turbulent love affairs, tragedies, and personal and financial disasters. And these, just as much as the high moments, are what make his story so compulsively readable.
Whether it is due to Willie's natural storytelling abilities or some to particularly adept ghost-writing manipulation, the whole thing flows beautifully. There's no flinching here, nor glorifying, but there's a lot of music, humour, thoughtfulness and insight culled from lessons learned the painful way. It is, as the subtitle states, a long story, but it's also the sort of book difficult not to devour in one or two sittings. “An epic tale” that often reads like a confession, it succeeds admirably in painting a broad-canvas portrait of a unique artist, a figure that devoted fans will recognise but only half-know, a flawed, complex individual, the quintessential outsider, still – even at this advanced age – fighting to make sense of the world.
His story starts, in the way of all all such celebrity autobiographies, at a defining life moment. In this case, it's the early '90s and the Inland Revenue Service have just lowered the boom. The singer, they said, owed $32 million in back taxes. Everything he'd struggled so hard to achieve was under threat. The law, it seemed, had this Outlaw surrounded. But to understand just how and why it happened, the reader is taken back to the very beginning.
Born on the 29th April, 1933 in tiny Abbott, a no-horse speck of a central Texas town, population somewhere around 400, that had been crippled by the Great Depression, Willie Hugh Nelson was the second child of Ira, a man of Arkansas dirt-farm stock, and the still teenaged Myrle, a three-quarters Cherokee Indian. The marriage didn't survive another six months, each being too wild in their ways.
“You'd think the absence of a mother and father would cause little kids like me and Bobbie all sorts of emotional damage,” writes Willie. “Well, I'm here to say that it didn't. It didn't because my grandparents – whom we called Mama and Daddy Nelson – took over.”
In this corner of the world, no one has much in the way of money, but there is an abundance of music, and of love. Abbott is a God-fearing place, but from a young age, through church and other avenues, Willie begins to explore his talent. The anecdotes in this part of the book are sweet and funny – a four year-old boy in a white sailor suit preparing to perform a poem at a gala outdoor tabernacle meeting, but giving into nerves and picking his way to a nosebleed, and a nickname: Booger Red – but things take an hard turn just two years later, when Daddy Nelson dies unexpectedly following a bout of pneumonia. Somehow, though, through hard work, the family survives.
From the start, Willie is a wild one. A star athlete in school, and already earning local renown from playing dances and beer joints at night in order to earn a few cents, it's clear that a town of this size can't contain him. At nineteen, having been shipped home from the Air Force on a medical discharge due to back problems, a consequence of years spent baling hay, he meets Martha Jewel Mathews, a full-blood Cherokee beauty. She is three years younger than him, but it's love at first sight. It also proves a tempestuous union. In the ten years they are together, they travel the country searching for Willie's break. She waits tables; he helps make ends meet by selling encyclopedias and vacuum cleaners door to door, or tries to catch work as a radio deejay, but nights are spent gigging, and drinking, which leads to a lot of problems, not least a string of infidelities. And by the time the marriage ends, they – and their three young children – are in Nashville.
On the music front, the breakthroughs come slowly. At first, the songs he is writing become hits for other singers: Faron Young takes 'Hello Walls' to the top of the Country charts, with sales of two million units. Ray Price hits with 'Night Life' and Roy Orbison with 'Pretty Paper', and Patsy Cline's version of 'Crazy' breaks down all kinds of doors, becoming one of the most played records of the century.
But even though he is becoming hot property as a songsmith, and finally earning well from his music, his ambition remains to make it as a recording artist in his own right. And it doesn't come easy. After a misfire with Liberty, he falls in with RCA, under the guidance of the brilliant Nashville guitarist, Chet Atkins, who insists on dulling the music's edges and layering the records with strings and choirs in order to fit the mould of the so-called 'Nashville Sound'. The problem is, a singer like Willie Nelson exists beyond the confines of moulds. Inevitably, the records flop.
Still, the right people are beginning to take notice. And, as the '70s dawn, things are changing on Music Row. Jerry Wexler, a producer with Atlantic, is a fan, and steps in with big promises. A couple of crucial albums, 'Shotgun Willie' and the concept gem, 'Phases and Stages', not only puts him on the map as a major talent, but leads to even bigger things, with Columbia Records, and an explosion of creativity and gold and platinum albums through most of the next decade that will make him Country music's brightest star.
By then, he has already done a lot of living. He's seen his ranch house in Nashville burn to the ground (he fights the flames in order to rescue his beloved guitar, Trigger, and his stash of pot); divorced Martha in order to marry Shirley; left Shirley to marry Connie, a road 'girlfriend' pregnant with his fifth child, committing accidental bigamy along the way. He also relocates his growing commune of family and friends to Austin, a Texas town more in keeping with his increasingly hippie leanings. Up ahead, even aside from the spectre of the IRS, are drug busts, hits, misses, another divorce, another marriage, more children, and a tragedy no parent wants to suffer. There's still a lot more story left to be told.
In recounting of his life in an honest, open fashion, without sensationalism or attempts at self-glorification, Willie Nelson's memoir is, in essence, a book about three things: love, survival and music. It makes for a thoroughly worthwhile read, even for those with no interest in his work. Fans, of course, will revel in this self-styled exposé and will find their appreciation for the songs deepening by the page.
Through it all, the only punches pulled are in connection with his children, because, he says: “... while I have every right to tell my story, I don't have the right to tell theirs.” Some might view this as an easy way of avoiding hard issues, but it is actually a statement that seems entirely in keeping with the character who emerges from these nearly 400 pages: convoluted, contradictory, and thoroughly human.
Willie, of course, needs no introduction. His face and loose-living image is known the world over, and his songs have become anthems for the lovelorn and dispossessed, delivered straight to the listener's heart in that utterly distinctive and expressive baritone, the very definition of a lived-in voice, as crumpled, scratched and weather-beaten as the Texas landscapes that he loves so much. At 82 years old, after several decades of hits, he has more than earned his vaunted status as a bona fide American icon.
Yet his journey to success has been fraught with difficulties, from his impoverished roots and half a lifetime of scraping a living as a no-name music-scene hustler, through turbulent love affairs, tragedies, and personal and financial disasters. And these, just as much as the high moments, are what make his story so compulsively readable.
Whether it is due to Willie's natural storytelling abilities or some to particularly adept ghost-writing manipulation, the whole thing flows beautifully. There's no flinching here, nor glorifying, but there's a lot of music, humour, thoughtfulness and insight culled from lessons learned the painful way. It is, as the subtitle states, a long story, but it's also the sort of book difficult not to devour in one or two sittings. “An epic tale” that often reads like a confession, it succeeds admirably in painting a broad-canvas portrait of a unique artist, a figure that devoted fans will recognise but only half-know, a flawed, complex individual, the quintessential outsider, still – even at this advanced age – fighting to make sense of the world.
His story starts, in the way of all all such celebrity autobiographies, at a defining life moment. In this case, it's the early '90s and the Inland Revenue Service have just lowered the boom. The singer, they said, owed $32 million in back taxes. Everything he'd struggled so hard to achieve was under threat. The law, it seemed, had this Outlaw surrounded. But to understand just how and why it happened, the reader is taken back to the very beginning.
Born on the 29th April, 1933 in tiny Abbott, a no-horse speck of a central Texas town, population somewhere around 400, that had been crippled by the Great Depression, Willie Hugh Nelson was the second child of Ira, a man of Arkansas dirt-farm stock, and the still teenaged Myrle, a three-quarters Cherokee Indian. The marriage didn't survive another six months, each being too wild in their ways.
“You'd think the absence of a mother and father would cause little kids like me and Bobbie all sorts of emotional damage,” writes Willie. “Well, I'm here to say that it didn't. It didn't because my grandparents – whom we called Mama and Daddy Nelson – took over.”
In this corner of the world, no one has much in the way of money, but there is an abundance of music, and of love. Abbott is a God-fearing place, but from a young age, through church and other avenues, Willie begins to explore his talent. The anecdotes in this part of the book are sweet and funny – a four year-old boy in a white sailor suit preparing to perform a poem at a gala outdoor tabernacle meeting, but giving into nerves and picking his way to a nosebleed, and a nickname: Booger Red – but things take an hard turn just two years later, when Daddy Nelson dies unexpectedly following a bout of pneumonia. Somehow, though, through hard work, the family survives.
From the start, Willie is a wild one. A star athlete in school, and already earning local renown from playing dances and beer joints at night in order to earn a few cents, it's clear that a town of this size can't contain him. At nineteen, having been shipped home from the Air Force on a medical discharge due to back problems, a consequence of years spent baling hay, he meets Martha Jewel Mathews, a full-blood Cherokee beauty. She is three years younger than him, but it's love at first sight. It also proves a tempestuous union. In the ten years they are together, they travel the country searching for Willie's break. She waits tables; he helps make ends meet by selling encyclopedias and vacuum cleaners door to door, or tries to catch work as a radio deejay, but nights are spent gigging, and drinking, which leads to a lot of problems, not least a string of infidelities. And by the time the marriage ends, they – and their three young children – are in Nashville.
On the music front, the breakthroughs come slowly. At first, the songs he is writing become hits for other singers: Faron Young takes 'Hello Walls' to the top of the Country charts, with sales of two million units. Ray Price hits with 'Night Life' and Roy Orbison with 'Pretty Paper', and Patsy Cline's version of 'Crazy' breaks down all kinds of doors, becoming one of the most played records of the century.
But even though he is becoming hot property as a songsmith, and finally earning well from his music, his ambition remains to make it as a recording artist in his own right. And it doesn't come easy. After a misfire with Liberty, he falls in with RCA, under the guidance of the brilliant Nashville guitarist, Chet Atkins, who insists on dulling the music's edges and layering the records with strings and choirs in order to fit the mould of the so-called 'Nashville Sound'. The problem is, a singer like Willie Nelson exists beyond the confines of moulds. Inevitably, the records flop.
Still, the right people are beginning to take notice. And, as the '70s dawn, things are changing on Music Row. Jerry Wexler, a producer with Atlantic, is a fan, and steps in with big promises. A couple of crucial albums, 'Shotgun Willie' and the concept gem, 'Phases and Stages', not only puts him on the map as a major talent, but leads to even bigger things, with Columbia Records, and an explosion of creativity and gold and platinum albums through most of the next decade that will make him Country music's brightest star.
By then, he has already done a lot of living. He's seen his ranch house in Nashville burn to the ground (he fights the flames in order to rescue his beloved guitar, Trigger, and his stash of pot); divorced Martha in order to marry Shirley; left Shirley to marry Connie, a road 'girlfriend' pregnant with his fifth child, committing accidental bigamy along the way. He also relocates his growing commune of family and friends to Austin, a Texas town more in keeping with his increasingly hippie leanings. Up ahead, even aside from the spectre of the IRS, are drug busts, hits, misses, another divorce, another marriage, more children, and a tragedy no parent wants to suffer. There's still a lot more story left to be told.
In recounting of his life in an honest, open fashion, without sensationalism or attempts at self-glorification, Willie Nelson's memoir is, in essence, a book about three things: love, survival and music. It makes for a thoroughly worthwhile read, even for those with no interest in his work. Fans, of course, will revel in this self-styled exposé and will find their appreciation for the songs deepening by the page.
Through it all, the only punches pulled are in connection with his children, because, he says: “... while I have every right to tell my story, I don't have the right to tell theirs.” Some might view this as an easy way of avoiding hard issues, but it is actually a statement that seems entirely in keeping with the character who emerges from these nearly 400 pages: convoluted, contradictory, and thoroughly human.
May 15, 2020
Digital audiobook read by Christopher Ryan Grant.
Oh, Willie! I’ve had a long-standing crush on the “red-headed stranger” and am glad to have learned more about him, because I like him even more now.
Willie lays it all out there. He talks about his childhood and the importance of church and faith in his upbringing. He talks about the poems he began writing when he was still in grade school, and how music filled his soul and helped him express himself. He talked about family and yet tried to maintain some privacy for his wives and children. He doesn’t shy away from chronicling his mistakes and owning them – from profligate spending to drinking to adultery – but he also celebrates his shining moments and gives credit to the many people who helped him along the way.
I listened to the audiobook read by Christopher Ryan Grant. I have to say that Grant’s delivery made me think that it was Willie, himself, relating the story. So I was somewhat disappointed that when he mentioned the lyrics of some of his more famous songs, they were spoken rather than sung. On the other hand, the audio does have a bonus at the end with a small section read by Willie and then a song.
Oh, Willie! I’ve had a long-standing crush on the “red-headed stranger” and am glad to have learned more about him, because I like him even more now.
Willie lays it all out there. He talks about his childhood and the importance of church and faith in his upbringing. He talks about the poems he began writing when he was still in grade school, and how music filled his soul and helped him express himself. He talked about family and yet tried to maintain some privacy for his wives and children. He doesn’t shy away from chronicling his mistakes and owning them – from profligate spending to drinking to adultery – but he also celebrates his shining moments and gives credit to the many people who helped him along the way.
I listened to the audiobook read by Christopher Ryan Grant. I have to say that Grant’s delivery made me think that it was Willie, himself, relating the story. So I was somewhat disappointed that when he mentioned the lyrics of some of his more famous songs, they were spoken rather than sung. On the other hand, the audio does have a bonus at the end with a small section read by Willie and then a song.
July 3, 2015
So much more than I thought it would be. Willie for President! Thanks, Goodreads, for my book!
June 12, 2020
Willie Nelson published this autobiography when he was 82. He didn’t exactly say when he wrote it. Which is something of a mystery because, even now five years later, he is still touring with something like a hundred and fifty show dates a year; writing and recording songs; putting together and releasing two albums a year; parenting six (now grown) children; smoking weed and campaigning for legalizing it; playing poker and dominoes; practicing martial arts; spending time at his ranch west of Austin and his houses near Paia, Maui, and in Abbott, Texas; holding his Independence Day Picnics where “rednecks and hippies” jointly celebrate life and music; dealing with former wives (three) and one current one; and, generally behaving as he damn well pleases. So when did he find the time to write about all of it? Well, he did. Found the time. And wrote about...all...of...it.
It’s a good thing he did. And made it so readable. Makes it easier for us to understand why we overlook his rude attitude and hare-brained-buffoon politics to love his music. Hell, even his best friend Waylon Jennings called his headgear “that silly-ass bandana” and admitted it was easy to get mad at Willie but hard to stay mad. So as not to spoil it, I’ll just say you can gather a fairly good understanding here, and if you do love the little squirrel’s music you’ll really enjoy it.
There’s a bonus too. Remember, he’s written so many songs made famous by others you probably don’t even know them all. I thought I did. Turns out there were some I didn’t (such as Ray Price’s “Night Life”). It was a real kick to learn how those songs and many others came about.
It’s a good thing he did. And made it so readable. Makes it easier for us to understand why we overlook his rude attitude and hare-brained-buffoon politics to love his music. Hell, even his best friend Waylon Jennings called his headgear “that silly-ass bandana” and admitted it was easy to get mad at Willie but hard to stay mad. So as not to spoil it, I’ll just say you can gather a fairly good understanding here, and if you do love the little squirrel’s music you’ll really enjoy it.
There’s a bonus too. Remember, he’s written so many songs made famous by others you probably don’t even know them all. I thought I did. Turns out there were some I didn’t (such as Ray Price’s “Night Life”). It was a real kick to learn how those songs and many others came about.
February 25, 2025
Willie Nelson is a legend. You don't have to like his music, you don't have to like him, but I guarantee you've at least heard of the musician in his 70+ years of entertaining (yes, feel old when you realize Nelson will be NINTY-TWO this year). And I fall into the category of not being a huge fan of his music (although he has some awesome hits) but I didn't know much about him. I learned a lot about Willie within these pages. All about his family, his career, his friendships, his relationships (and there were plenty of those). It's a Long Story was published in 2014 so it's not completely up to date. The memoir feels sincere and honest. The audiobook, while not narrated by Nelson, is well done and even includes a song only found within the audio format of the memoir! This becomes my first 5 star rated book for 2025.
July 4, 2023
Willie Nelson was 82 years old when this memoir was released, and he had some really great stories to tell by then. Thoroughly entertained, I laughed, nearly cried, and was astounded at some of the events he recounted. The audiobook is narrated well and even includes a special song at the end. I recommend also checking out the physical book for viewing the iconic photos with many country stars and others. Willie Nelson may not have always been the best spouse, according to his own words, but his is a caring soul who will hopefully be remembered later for his kindness to those in need like America's farmers and devotion to family and his fans.
January 1, 2016
I've always been a musical fan. And I love his guitar playing.
Willie shared a LOT with us: from Old buddies to failed marriages and tax nastiness. It's all in here.
It was great to hear Willie go through most of his albums and their creation. He even mentioned my two fav's "Milk Cow blues" and "Two Men With The Blues (with Wynton Marsalis)". And an awesome gig he did with Norah Jones and Wyton "Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles.
Other than music, I wouldn't look to Willie for any life advice. Between divorces, alcohol and drugs, bad business deals, and kids everywhere... He seems to have some sort of morality that is based on? Who knows, but that's the same place he gets his very poor spirituality and theology. It was sad to hear Willie attempt to discuss religion with some authority. He's Biblically illiterate yet seems to think he and the BIG GUY have some kind of understanding. The Bible tells us differently Willie. You have to actually read the WHOLE thing to understand how Christianity functions. Willie assumes Jesus came and died so rebellious music folk can smoke pot, cheat on their wives, live rather selfish lives (4 houses Willie?), and condemn fundamental believing Conservative TRADITIONAL Christian values.
If you want to be a liberal Buddhist humanist you may do that - but PLEASE stop trying to convince people that you are some kind of Christian with Godly values. Satan probably attends church more than you do.
Music won't save your soul Willie. But thanks for the melodies buddy.
Willie shared a LOT with us: from Old buddies to failed marriages and tax nastiness. It's all in here.
It was great to hear Willie go through most of his albums and their creation. He even mentioned my two fav's "Milk Cow blues" and "Two Men With The Blues (with Wynton Marsalis)". And an awesome gig he did with Norah Jones and Wyton "Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles.
Other than music, I wouldn't look to Willie for any life advice. Between divorces, alcohol and drugs, bad business deals, and kids everywhere... He seems to have some sort of morality that is based on? Who knows, but that's the same place he gets his very poor spirituality and theology. It was sad to hear Willie attempt to discuss religion with some authority. He's Biblically illiterate yet seems to think he and the BIG GUY have some kind of understanding. The Bible tells us differently Willie. You have to actually read the WHOLE thing to understand how Christianity functions. Willie assumes Jesus came and died so rebellious music folk can smoke pot, cheat on their wives, live rather selfish lives (4 houses Willie?), and condemn fundamental believing Conservative TRADITIONAL Christian values.
If you want to be a liberal Buddhist humanist you may do that - but PLEASE stop trying to convince people that you are some kind of Christian with Godly values. Satan probably attends church more than you do.
Music won't save your soul Willie. But thanks for the melodies buddy.
June 24, 2017
'My Life: It's a Long Story' is a short read, but one I really liked. I have previously read 'The Outlaw', a biography by Graeme Thomson. 'My Life' described as the definitive autobiography of Willie Nelson, ('Willie: An Autobiography' has previously hit the bookshelves) is the authentic voice of the man, now in his eighties and still hitting the road.
The book flows like a taped, no holds barred narration of his life that has then been put into book form by David Ritz. However I really enjoyed this memoir, spoken direct and true by the Texan country troubadour of his life, his family and seven decades in the music business.
A roller coaster of highs and lows, hits and misses, love and loss. An honest portrait of a great artist.
The book flows like a taped, no holds barred narration of his life that has then been put into book form by David Ritz. However I really enjoyed this memoir, spoken direct and true by the Texan country troubadour of his life, his family and seven decades in the music business.
A roller coaster of highs and lows, hits and misses, love and loss. An honest portrait of a great artist.
July 10, 2017
Willie has always been around my life. Growing up he was always on the radio and my mom really liked his music---especially "On The Road Again". She sang that song around the house quite a bit. With that being said, inside "It's a Long Story" you get a sense of how Willie Nelson struggled to get noticed, much less famous. He's a strong willed man, a stubborn one, who lets nothing get in the way of the goals he has for himself. Interesting to read how some of his songs came to be, interesting to read how deep his faith is. We'd all like to write (and rewrite) our own history and I think Willie succeeded in telling what he wanted and leaving out some big regrets.
July 3, 2018
Reading this book is like sitting down and hanging out with Willie Nelson and listening to him spin tales about his life. I have no idea how factual or historically accurate it is, but Willie’s love of music, family and people are the main themes. He admits to all the mistakes he’s made in his life and recounts some crazy adventures over the years.
I have been a casual fan all of my life, and it was fascinating to hear about the origins of many of my favorite songs. And I had no idea that Willie Nelson first had a career as a songwriter and also penned many of the classics I love that were sung by other artists, such as Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”.
I have been a casual fan all of my life, and it was fascinating to hear about the origins of many of my favorite songs. And I had no idea that Willie Nelson first had a career as a songwriter and also penned many of the classics I love that were sung by other artists, such as Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”.
December 18, 2019
I've never been a huge fan of Willie, but I've always thought well of him. But then I inherited a record collection that included Stardust, Red Headed Stranger, and Waylon & Willie, which of course made me a fan. He's an interesting dude with an interesting outlook that has resulted in an interesting life. This book was a bit of a history lesson in country music and it was one I probably needed. I knew most of the names mentioned in this book by public perception only and this book gives what I believe to be an honest look at them. So many recognizable characters come in and out, which helps keep everything grounded with perspective.
July 22, 2018
Willie has such a positive outlook that this book was cheering for me in spite of the bad language. My husband is feeling very low right now due to having read another book by Lee Child so I think he should quit reading them. Its so nice to find a cheerful uplifting book especially these days when it seems that writers try hard to think of the most horrible thing they can write about to shock a person.
Willie has a very unusual positive outlook so I recommend this for everyone and especially if you like his music as he explains how some of it came about which is so interesting.
Willie has a very unusual positive outlook so I recommend this for everyone and especially if you like his music as he explains how some of it came about which is so interesting.
March 7, 2017
A very interesting view of Willie's life from his eyes. Some parts were a little boring. it got a little slow going during the years he was getting started. I can imagine it was rough for Willie too. I'm not sure if this would be an interesting book if you weren't a fan of Willie's though. I've read/listened to some memoirs that made me a fan of that person. I don't think this would be one of those.
August 30, 2021
This is a long story … even longer now that Willie is now 88. While the book has a “with” credit for writer David Ritz, the undaunted voice of Willie Nelson comes through. He has bad times, depression, set backs, but he carried the thoughts of Norman Vincent Peale’sThe Power of Positive Thinking throughout his life. His prose remains upbeat through his divorces, losses of loved ones (including a son) and his IRS troubles.
Nelson covers his unusual childhood with respect (and perhaps understanding) for his parents who left him in the care of his grandparents while they went their separate ways. He spares them, and us, the reasons. He expresses great love for grandparents (grief upon losing his grandfather), parents and sister. Later you see both parents (in TX and OR) welcome Nelson, wife and 3 toddlers when they were in need and how Sister is a lifelong partner in music. He writes about how his faith (also a lifelong "partner" for him) was nurtured by his grandmother and music.
Nelson covers his adult life in a series of anecdotes and conversations. This may be the only way to do it since he is adventurous (an attribute he believes was passed down from his mother), has a lot of interests and friends, and is constantly busy.
The format does allow him to skate through uncomfortable times such as how he cheated the women in his significant relationships, how he came to owe the IRS $32 million (he does not mention the amount, only the $6 million settlement), how he skirted prosecution for drugs in the Bahamas (and got favorable treatment for busts in the US) and the death of his son.
Here are a few surprising things I learned in this book – in the approximate order that I learned them:
• Nelson abused his first wife. Not only was there violence (two tangoing he says) but she waitressed to support 3 young children while he, so it seems, drank most of the day.
• Nelson was a songwriter before his performance fame. His big hit was “Crazy” which was recorded by Patsy Cline in 1962. His first hit, “Hello Walls” modest in comparison.
• His second wife learned of his infidelity through a hospital invoice for the birth of a daughter (who was not hers)
• Nelson is a golfer… he built a course on this Pedernales ranch
• John T. Floore, owner (still?) of the Floore Store, outside of Austin, supplied sheets to the KKK
• Nelson performed a season at Branson.
• Nelson made 2 albums a year over a 20 year period.
The photos are the one’s you’ll want to see. They show the Nelson’s family and those with whom he has worked over the years. I don't like the cover. Nelson looks angry, and the text shows him to be anything but angry. The index did not work for me.
This is a good book, but not great. I think the 5 star reviews for this book are for Nelson and the opportunity to hear his story in what appears to his authentic voice.
Nelson covers his unusual childhood with respect (and perhaps understanding) for his parents who left him in the care of his grandparents while they went their separate ways. He spares them, and us, the reasons. He expresses great love for grandparents (grief upon losing his grandfather), parents and sister. Later you see both parents (in TX and OR) welcome Nelson, wife and 3 toddlers when they were in need and how Sister is a lifelong partner in music. He writes about how his faith (also a lifelong "partner" for him) was nurtured by his grandmother and music.
Nelson covers his adult life in a series of anecdotes and conversations. This may be the only way to do it since he is adventurous (an attribute he believes was passed down from his mother), has a lot of interests and friends, and is constantly busy.
The format does allow him to skate through uncomfortable times such as how he cheated the women in his significant relationships, how he came to owe the IRS $32 million (he does not mention the amount, only the $6 million settlement), how he skirted prosecution for drugs in the Bahamas (and got favorable treatment for busts in the US) and the death of his son.
Here are a few surprising things I learned in this book – in the approximate order that I learned them:
• Nelson abused his first wife. Not only was there violence (two tangoing he says) but she waitressed to support 3 young children while he, so it seems, drank most of the day.
• Nelson was a songwriter before his performance fame. His big hit was “Crazy” which was recorded by Patsy Cline in 1962. His first hit, “Hello Walls” modest in comparison.
• His second wife learned of his infidelity through a hospital invoice for the birth of a daughter (who was not hers)
• Nelson is a golfer… he built a course on this Pedernales ranch
• John T. Floore, owner (still?) of the Floore Store, outside of Austin, supplied sheets to the KKK
• Nelson performed a season at Branson.
• Nelson made 2 albums a year over a 20 year period.
The photos are the one’s you’ll want to see. They show the Nelson’s family and those with whom he has worked over the years. I don't like the cover. Nelson looks angry, and the text shows him to be anything but angry. The index did not work for me.
This is a good book, but not great. I think the 5 star reviews for this book are for Nelson and the opportunity to hear his story in what appears to his authentic voice.
January 13, 2019
Do you have to be a big Willie Nelson fan to like this book? It helps, but absolutely not. This was one of the most fun reads I’ve had in years. Willie takes you on a wild ride that is his version of his life.
What’s this book about? Willie sums it up well: “It’s just the story of a picker from Hill County, Texas, who got more good breaks than bad and managed to keep from going crazy by staying close to the music of his heart.”
I read this with a country accent and/or Willie’s voice in my head as I went past every word and it made the experience even better. The stories are told with a folksy, country edge that fits perfectly.
Where Willie excels is when he talks about music, the industry and his song writing philosophies. It’s a philosophy of love and harmony, both with Trigger, his fellow musicians and music in general.
The funny and/or interesting anecdotes are plentiful. They often involve other interesting characters like Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Charles, and Johnny Cash. My favorite though has to be when he ends up smoking pot on top of President Carter’s White House:
“Getting stoned on the roof of the White House, you can’t help but turn inward. Certain philosophical questions come to mind like...How the fuck did I get here?”
My only criticism is that he glosses over or minimizes some of his rather obvious faults as a father and husband over and over again throughout the book. He never blames anyone else or seeks to absolve himself of his bad acts in these regards, but there’s a breeziness to the passages that falls flat.
“Loyalty is a strong element of my character.” This comes late in the book after he’s conceded cheating on three wives in a row, abandoning his children rather often, and failing the basics of parenting and marriage. Much later in the book, there is one paragraph where he beautifully does express his regret for such things, but added to the prior expressions of them ends up a notable clumsy point in his otherwise magical and consistent narrative style.
I considered not giving this 5 stars for that reason, but didn’t because it was such a non-stop entertaining and fantastic read. You can’t help but love Willie. He’s a hippie cowboy that can sing a damn good song that just might live forever.
I recall many of his “fans” being upset when he basically gave Donald Trump the figurative middle finger, supporting other people and causes. If you know Willie, have followed him his entire career, you’d be an idiot to expect him to stump for someone like Trump. “Global warming is serious as sin” Willie says, no Chinese hoaxes, and this a guy that has smoked a TON of weed.
Speaking of weed, his journey to find the great herb is another part of this saga and one where he expertly extolls the virtues of cannabis and the vices of other substances in comparison. His spiritual reason against cocaine is great. I laughed out loud when he wrote that he now sells his own strain of MJ since he’s bought so much of it, figured he may as well start selling some of it back.
I have a few favorite Willie Nelson songs (“You Were Always On My Mind”; “On The Road Again”) that I consider timeless. His skill as a lyricist is defies debate. But now I can add this book as one of my favorite Willie “songs”. It may not have three chords, but it contains his truth, and there’s a musicality throughout it.
What’s this book about? Willie sums it up well: “It’s just the story of a picker from Hill County, Texas, who got more good breaks than bad and managed to keep from going crazy by staying close to the music of his heart.”
I read this with a country accent and/or Willie’s voice in my head as I went past every word and it made the experience even better. The stories are told with a folksy, country edge that fits perfectly.
Where Willie excels is when he talks about music, the industry and his song writing philosophies. It’s a philosophy of love and harmony, both with Trigger, his fellow musicians and music in general.
The funny and/or interesting anecdotes are plentiful. They often involve other interesting characters like Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Charles, and Johnny Cash. My favorite though has to be when he ends up smoking pot on top of President Carter’s White House:
“Getting stoned on the roof of the White House, you can’t help but turn inward. Certain philosophical questions come to mind like...How the fuck did I get here?”
My only criticism is that he glosses over or minimizes some of his rather obvious faults as a father and husband over and over again throughout the book. He never blames anyone else or seeks to absolve himself of his bad acts in these regards, but there’s a breeziness to the passages that falls flat.
“Loyalty is a strong element of my character.” This comes late in the book after he’s conceded cheating on three wives in a row, abandoning his children rather often, and failing the basics of parenting and marriage. Much later in the book, there is one paragraph where he beautifully does express his regret for such things, but added to the prior expressions of them ends up a notable clumsy point in his otherwise magical and consistent narrative style.
I considered not giving this 5 stars for that reason, but didn’t because it was such a non-stop entertaining and fantastic read. You can’t help but love Willie. He’s a hippie cowboy that can sing a damn good song that just might live forever.
I recall many of his “fans” being upset when he basically gave Donald Trump the figurative middle finger, supporting other people and causes. If you know Willie, have followed him his entire career, you’d be an idiot to expect him to stump for someone like Trump. “Global warming is serious as sin” Willie says, no Chinese hoaxes, and this a guy that has smoked a TON of weed.
Speaking of weed, his journey to find the great herb is another part of this saga and one where he expertly extolls the virtues of cannabis and the vices of other substances in comparison. His spiritual reason against cocaine is great. I laughed out loud when he wrote that he now sells his own strain of MJ since he’s bought so much of it, figured he may as well start selling some of it back.
I have a few favorite Willie Nelson songs (“You Were Always On My Mind”; “On The Road Again”) that I consider timeless. His skill as a lyricist is defies debate. But now I can add this book as one of my favorite Willie “songs”. It may not have three chords, but it contains his truth, and there’s a musicality throughout it.
May 19, 2015
"It's a long story. You'll probably never make it to the end. There's way too many words, way too many pages, too much time to stop and start again." Willie's book is really not that long but I did feel at times that I would never make it to the end. I'm glad I did. At times I did feel like I was listening to my grandpa tell me about the lotto numbers he played and how he almost hit two, which is not not necessarily a bad thing (I'd love to be able to sit with him again and listen and be "bored"). Reading "It's a Long Story My Life" was enlightening not only with respect to Willie Nelson the man and musician but also in understanding tolerance and the value of seeing that thing in all of us that connects us.
Like a flock of maple seeds carried by the wind, our lives seem chaotic, whirling little helicopters, some falling in gutters, some carried for a while to no place of any consequence wedged under a car's wiper blade, and some, like Willie Nelson's, travel a little farther, twirl a little faster, and maybe believe in something bigger, as if they know they are the mighty maple they'll become, and find fertile ground--find a home. As most of us are eager to point out, and as Willie recognizes, we are different, but Willie has that rare ability to understand we are all carried by the same wind and I believe he is genuine in his gratitude, his humility, and in his talents. He's no doubt an amazing songwriter, probably a lesser story teller, but a true believer in the human spirit, the power of song, and a lover of life. 3.5 stars
Like a flock of maple seeds carried by the wind, our lives seem chaotic, whirling little helicopters, some falling in gutters, some carried for a while to no place of any consequence wedged under a car's wiper blade, and some, like Willie Nelson's, travel a little farther, twirl a little faster, and maybe believe in something bigger, as if they know they are the mighty maple they'll become, and find fertile ground--find a home. As most of us are eager to point out, and as Willie recognizes, we are different, but Willie has that rare ability to understand we are all carried by the same wind and I believe he is genuine in his gratitude, his humility, and in his talents. He's no doubt an amazing songwriter, probably a lesser story teller, but a true believer in the human spirit, the power of song, and a lover of life. 3.5 stars
August 28, 2018
"Roll me up and smoke me when I die Yes, I've got the t-shirt!
I have loved Willie Nelson's music for longer than I can remember and in his 8th decade his voice has mellowed but still resonates with me (might be something to do with all the cannabis he has smoked though!). Willie Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor and activist. He was inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993, when he was sixty years of age.
My Life: It's a Long Story is the definitive autobiography of Willie Nelson. "Songs come easy to me. I've written hundreds of them. I see them as little stories that fall out of our lives and imaginations. If I have to struggle to write a song, I stop before I start. I figure if it don't flow easy, it's not meant to be"
Nelson is no saint. Married four times with numerous children this is a story of restlessness and the purity of the moment and living right. From his childhood in Abbott, Texas to the Pacific Northwest, from Nashville to Hawaii and all the way back again. This is a story of true love, wild times, best friends and bar-rooms, with a musical soundtrack ripping right through it. His music can make me laugh and make me cry. His book leaves no stone unturned, a story told as clear as a Texas sky.
I loved it and I want to visit Abbott, Texas before someone rolls me up....
I have loved Willie Nelson's music for longer than I can remember and in his 8th decade his voice has mellowed but still resonates with me (might be something to do with all the cannabis he has smoked though!). Willie Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor and activist. He was inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993, when he was sixty years of age.
My Life: It's a Long Story is the definitive autobiography of Willie Nelson. "Songs come easy to me. I've written hundreds of them. I see them as little stories that fall out of our lives and imaginations. If I have to struggle to write a song, I stop before I start. I figure if it don't flow easy, it's not meant to be"
Nelson is no saint. Married four times with numerous children this is a story of restlessness and the purity of the moment and living right. From his childhood in Abbott, Texas to the Pacific Northwest, from Nashville to Hawaii and all the way back again. This is a story of true love, wild times, best friends and bar-rooms, with a musical soundtrack ripping right through it. His music can make me laugh and make me cry. His book leaves no stone unturned, a story told as clear as a Texas sky.
I loved it and I want to visit Abbott, Texas before someone rolls me up....
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