Original subtitles

[music - "Whiskey River"]

♪ Whiskey River, take my mind. ♪

♪ Don't let her memory torture me. ♪

♪ Whiskey River, don't run dry. ♪

♪ You're all I've got, so take care of me. ♪

♪ Whiskey River, take my mind. ♪

♪ Don't let her memory torture me. ♪

♪ Whiskey River, don't run dry. ♪

♪ You're all I've got, so take care of me. ♪

♪ Well, I'm drowning in a whiskey river, ♪

♪ Bathing my memory's mind in the wetness of its soul, ♪

♪ Feeling the amber current flowin' from my mind ♪

♪ To warm an empty heart you left so cold. ♪

♪ Whiskey River, take my mind. ♪

♪ Don't let her memory torture me. ♪

♪ Whiskey River, don't run dry. ♪

♪ You're all I've got, so take care of me. ♪

Come on Mickey!

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Well, I'm drowning in a whiskey river, ♪

♪ Bathing my memory's mind in the wetness of its soul, ♪

♪ Feeling the amber current flowin' from my mind ♪

♪ To warm an empty heart you left so cold. ♪

♪ Whiskey River, take my mind. ♪

♪ Don't let her memory torture me. ♪

♪ Whiskey River, don't run dry. ♪

♪ You're all I've got so take care of me. ♪

♪ Whiskey River, take my mind. ♪

♪ Don't let her memory torture me. ♪

♪ Whiskey River, don't run dry. ♪

♪ You're all I've got so take care of me. ♪

♪ ♪

Thank you.

♪ ♪

[Announcer] From Nashville, Tennessee, it's the

Willie Nelson American Outlaw All-Star Concert

with performances by Chris Stapleton,

Dave Matthews,

Emmylou Harris,

Eric Church,

George Strait,

Jack Johnson,

Jamey Johnson,

Lukas and Micah Nelson,

Lyle Lovett and Ray Benson,

Nathaniel Rateliff,

Norah Jones and The Little Willies,

Sheryl Crow,

Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks,

The Avett Brothers,

Vince Gill,

and Willie Nelson.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your host for the evening, Ed Helms.

[Ed] Welcome everyone.

We are in for an unbelievable treat tonight.

What you're about to experience is so much more

than just fantastic music.

This is going to be a love fest,

a love fest for a certain unassuming

bighearted sly old son of a gun from Abbott, Texas,

who is still kickin' more ass than you or I ever will.

[audience cheers]

Let's bring out the reason we've gathered together

in joyful celebration tonight,

the man of the hour,

an American hero,

Willie Nelson.

[audience cheers]

[audience cheers]

How are you all doing?

[audience cheers]

This is a great evening.

Thank you.

And thanks to all the artists who are here.

I love 'em all.

Thank you all.

Derek and Susan, let's do "City of New Orleans".

[music - "City of New Orleans"]

♪ Ridin' on the City of New Orleans, ♪

♪ Illinois Central, early mornin' rail, ♪

♪ 15 cars and 15 restless riders, ♪

♪ three conductors and 25 sacks of mail. ♪

♪ All along the southbound odyssey, ♪

♪ The train pulled out from Kankakee, ♪

♪ Rolls along past houses, farms and fields, ♪

♪ Passin' trains that have no name, ♪

♪ Freight yards full of old black men, ♪

♪ And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles. ♪

♪ Good mornin' America, how are you? ♪

♪ I said don't you know me? ♪

♪ I'm your native son. ♪

♪ I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans. ♪

♪ I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done. ♪

♪ Dealin' cards with the old men in the club car, ♪

♪ Penny a point, ♪

♪ Ain't no one keepin' score. ♪

♪ Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle ♪

♪ And feel the wheels grumblin' 'neath the floor. ♪

♪ And the sons of Pullman porters ♪

♪ And the sons of engineers ♪

♪ Ride their fathers' magic carpet made of steel. ♪

♪ And mothers with their babes asleep, ♪

♪ Rockin' to the gentle beat, ♪

♪ And the rhythm of the rail is all they feel. ♪

♪ Good mornin' America, how are you? ♪

♪ I said don't you know me? ♪

♪ I'm your native son. ♪

♪ I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans. ♪

♪ I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done. ♪

♪ ♪

Play one!

♪ ♪

♪ Night time on the City of New Orleans, ♪

♪ Changin' cars in Memphis, Tennessee. ♪

♪ Halfway home, we'll be there by mornin'. ♪

♪ With the Mississippi darkness ♪

♪ Rollin' down to the sea. ♪

♪ Oh, but all the towns and people ♪

♪ Seem to fade into a bad dream ♪

♪ And the steel rails still ain't heard the news. ♪

♪ The conductor sang his songs again: ♪

♪ "The passengers will please refrain." ♪

♪ This train has got the disappearin' railroad blues. ♪

♪ Good mornin' America, how are you? ♪

[audience cheers]

♪ I said don't you know me? ♪

♪ I'm your native son. ♪

♪ I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans. ♪

♪ I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done. ♪

♪ And I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done. ♪

♪ I'll be gone 500 miles ♪

♪ When the day is done. ♪

[audience cheers]

Thank you.

[Announcer] Coming up: Norah Jo The first time I saw him, I was playing at a fair somewhere

and I'm thinking I'm doing really good because the

crowd's going -- I mean everyone went nuts.

And I look over and here's Willie's bus is pulling up,

so they're all clapping for Willie.

[laughs]

I remember, um, growing up and going to my

grandparents' house in Oklahoma.

And my grandpa's favorite record was Redheaded Stranger,

so that was always there.

My grandfather, I don't know if he really listened

to anything except Merle and Willie.

So I think I was about eight or nine years old before I knew

other people made records.

I grew I grew up listening to Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash.

and when it became sort of pop country,

Willie became sort of the outlaw.

And that's when I really started getting into him.

I remember being aware of it, like being in my mother's arms,

dad playing.

But I remember falling asleep, even though everybody was

raucous and having fun, it was just nice and soothing.

One of my high school buddies and I would listen to

Willie records and learned his songs.

And I feel like Willie's always been a part of my life.

Willie's probably one of my most favorite musicians,

so probably one of my biggest influences.

Thank you so much.

My name is Norah Jones.

[audience cheers]

I love Willie Nelson so much that I got together

with my friends about 18 years ago

and we started a band called The Little Willies.

And we are The Little Willies.

So, we love you, Willie, very, very much.

[Male] One, two, one, two, three.

[music - "Gotta Get Drunk"]

♪ ♪

♪ I gotta get drunk. ♪

♪ I sure do dread it 'cause I know just what I'm gonna do. ♪

♪ I'll start to spend my money calling everybody honey ♪

♪ And wind up singing the blues. ♪

♪ I'll spend my whole paycheck on some old wreck. ♪

♪ And brother I can name you a few. ♪

♪ But I gotta get drunk. ♪

♪ I sure do dread it 'cause I know just what I'm gonna do. ♪

♪ I gotta get drunk. ♪

♪ I can't stay sober. ♪

♪ There's a lot of good people in town ♪

♪ Who'd like to hear me holler, ♪

♪ See me spend my dollar, ♪

♪ And I wouldn't think of lettin' 'em down. ♪

♪ There's a lot of doctors that tell me ♪

♪ I'd better start puttin' it down. ♪

♪ But there's more old drunks than there are good doctors ♪

♪ So I guess we'd better have another round. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I gotta get drunk. ♪

♪ Can't stay sober. ♪

♪ There's a lot of good people in town ♪

♪ Who start to see me holler, ♪

♪ See me spend my dollar, ♪

♪ And I wouldn't think of lettin' 'em down. ♪

♪ There's a lot of doctors that tell me ♪

♪ I'd better stop puttin' it down. ♪

♪ But there's more old drunks than there are good doctors ♪

♪ So, Jim, take another round. ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Woh, woh, wohhhhh. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I gotta get drunk. ♪

♪ I sure do dread it 'cause I know just what I'm gonna do. ♪

♪ I'll start to spend my money calling everybody honey ♪

♪ And wind up singing the blues. ♪

♪ I'll spend my whole paycheck on some old wreck. ♪

♪ And brother I can name you a few. ♪

♪ Well I gotta get drunk. ♪

♪ I sure do dread it 'cause I know just what I'm gonna do. ♪

♪ ♪

There's nothing like singing with Willie Nelson.

I told him at our rehearsal today there's nobody I could

say I love singing with more than him.

I'm singing "After the Fire Is Gone".

This is one of those great country songs.

I think Loretta and Conway Twitty did it.

Willie recorded it as well with Tina Rose.

I'd sing anything with him.

[music - "After the Fire Is Gone"]

♪ ♪

♪ Well, the bottle is half empty ♪

♪ And the clock just now struck ten. ♪

♪ Darling, I had to call you ♪

♪ To our perfect place again. ♪

♪ We know it's wrong for us to meet ♪

♪ But the fire's gone out at home. ♪

♪ There's nothing cold as ashes ♪

♪ After the fire is gone. ♪

♪ Love is where you find it ♪

♪ When you find no love at home. ♪

♪ There's nothing cold as ashes ♪

♪ After the fire is gone. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Well, your lips are warm and tender ♪

♪ And your arms hold me just right. ♪

♪ Sweet words of love you remember ♪

♪ That the one at home forgot. ♪

♪ Each time we say it's the last time ♪

♪ We keep on hanging on. ♪

♪ There's nothing cold as ashes ♪

♪ After the fire is gone. ♪

♪ Love is where you find it ♪

♪ When you find no love at home. ♪

♪ There's nothing cold as ashes ♪

♪ After the fire is gone. ♪

♪ There's nothing as cold as ashes ♪

♪ After the fire is gone. ♪

[audience cheers]

Thank you, Sheryl.

Tonight I'm going to be singing "A Song For You",

which is actually a Leon Russell song.

I just thought it was appropriate, you know.

Leon and Willie were friends

and they collaborated a lot together.

And it's something I kind of grew up with

and I love the quirkiness of it.

And as a performer, I feel like the song speaks to a lot of

people who write and, uh, and it's just a beautiful song.

♪ I've been so many places ♪

♪ In my life and times. ♪

♪ I've sung a lot of songs. ♪

♪ I've made some bad rhymes. ♪

♪ I acted out my love on stages ♪

♪ With ten thousand people watching. ♪

♪ But we're alone now ♪

♪ And I'm singing this song to you. ♪

♪ I know your image of me ♪

♪ Is what I hope to be. ♪

♪ I've treated you unkindly ♪

♪ But darling can't you see ♪

♪ There's no one more important to me? ♪

♪ Darling won't you please see through me? ♪

♪ 'Cause we're alone now ♪

♪ And I'm singing this song to you. ♪

♪ You taught me precious secrets ♪

♪ Of truth withholding nothing. ♪

♪ You came out in front when I was hiding. ♪

♪ But now it's so much better. ♪

♪ If my words don't come together ♪

♪ Listen to the melody ♪

♪ 'Cause my love is in there hiding. ♪

♪ I love you in a place ♪

♪ Where there's no space and time. ♪

♪ I love you for my life. ♪

♪ You are a friend of mine. ♪

♪ And when my life is over ♪

♪ I'll remember that we were together. ♪

♪ 'Cause we're alone now and I'm singing this song to you. ♪

♪ We were alone and I was singing this song, ♪

♪ Singing this song for you. ♪

♪ ♪

[audience cheers]

Thank you so much.

There's nothing better than, you know,

having your kids onstage playing with you.

It's even better if they're good.

[laughs]

Tonight we are honoring our father

and singing a medley of songs.

I think it's cool and special that we're both doing it

together because we have two different styles

that really complement each other in music.

We just threw it together.

It worked really well.

- Yeah, it--it always works. - Yeah.

[music - "I Thought About You"]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I thought about trees, ♪

♪ How much I'd like to climb one. ♪

♪ I thought about friends ♪

♪ And how rare it is to find one. ♪

♪ I thought about you, ♪

♪ The most gentle, sweet and kind one. ♪

♪ I thought about you, Lord. ♪

♪ I thought about you. ♪

♪ I thought about life ♪

♪ And the way that things are goin'. ♪

♪ I thought about love ♪

♪ And the pain that comes with growin'. ♪

♪ I thought about you, ♪

♪ The one who is all-knowing. ♪

♪ I thought about you, Lord. ♪

♪ I thought about you. ♪

♪ I thought about you ♪

♪ And the songs that I keep singin'. ♪

♪ I thought about you ♪

♪ And the joy that they keep bringin'. ♪

♪ I thought about life ♪

♪ And a love that has no ending. ♪

♪ I thought about you, Lord. ♪

♪ I thought about you. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I thought about you ♪

♪ And the songs that I keep singin'. ♪

♪ I thought about you ♪

♪ And the joy that they keep bringin'. ♪

♪ I thought about life ♪

♪ And a love that has no ending. ♪

♪ I thought about you, Lord. ♪

♪ I thought about you. ♪

♪ I thought about you, Lord. ♪

♪ I thought about you. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[audience cheers]

[music - "Time of the Preacher"]

♪ And he could not forgive her, ♪

♪ Though he tried and he tried and he tried. ♪

♪ And the halls of his memory ♪

♪ Still echo her lies. ♪

♪ And he cried like a baby ♪

♪ And he screamed like a panther ♪

♪ In the middle of the night. ♪

♪ And he saddled his pony ♪

♪ And he went for a ride. ♪

♪ It was the time of the preacher ♪

♪ In the year of 01. ♪

♪ Now the preachin' is over. ♪

♪ And the lesson's begun. ♪

[music - "Hand on the Wheel"]

♪ At a time when the world ♪

♪ Seems to be spinnin' ♪

♪ Hopelessly out of control, ♪

♪ There's dreamers ♪

♪ And believers ♪

♪ And old in-betweeners ♪

♪ And people with no place to go. ♪

♪ It's the same old song. ♪

♪ It's right and it's wrong. ♪

♪ It's the way that I feel about you. ♪

♪ And with no place to hide ♪

♪ I looked in your eyes ♪

♪ And I found myself in you. ♪

♪ In the shade of an oak ♪

♪ Down by the river ♪

♪ Sat an old man and a boy. ♪

♪ Settin' sail, ♪

♪ Spinnin' tales ♪

♪ And fishin' for whales ♪

♪ With a lady that they both enjoy. ♪

♪ I looked to the stars. ♪

♪ I tried all of the bars. ♪

♪ And I nearly went up in smoke. ♪

♪ But now my hand's on the wheel ♪

♪ Of something that's real. ♪

♪ And I feel like I'm goin' home. ♪

♪ And I feel like I'm ♪

♪ Going ♪

♪ Home. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[audience cheers]

What makes Willie Nelson an outlaw is just, you know,

not wanting to conform, his wanting to be able to

play his music the way he hears it.

One of the main things that I've learned from

his story is the best thing you can do is follow

your inspiration wherever it takes you, even if it's

not what the industry wants you to do at that moment in time.

His greatest impact on the music business has been that

he could just tell everybody to ---- off.

And he left town and he did it his way.

The idea of style or what a person brings to a culture --

the best and the most noticeable are just the

people that realize who they are,

and they're just being them.

Willie's outlaw movement is kind of giving a finger

to the industry, really, you know, and just like:

we're going to do it the way we think is best.

Frank Sinatra might have sung "My Way"

but Willie did it, and lived it.

[Announcer] Ladies and Gentlemen, Eric Church.

[music - "Me and Paul"]

[Eric] Hey.

♪ ♪

♪ It's been rough and rocky travelin' ♪

♪ But I'm finally standing upright on the ground. ♪

♪ After takin' several readings ♪

♪ I'm surprised to see my mind's still fairly sound. ♪

♪ Well, I guess Nashville was the toughest ♪

♪ But you know I've said the same about them all. ♪

♪ We received our education ♪

♪ In the cities of the nation, ♪

♪ Me and Paul. ♪

♪ Almost busted in Laredo ♪

♪ For reasons that I'd rather not disclose. ♪

♪ But if you're stayin' in a motel there and leave ♪

♪ Just don't leave nothin' in your clothes. ♪

♪ And at the airport in Milwaukee ♪

♪ They refused to let us board the plane at all. ♪

♪ Yeah, they said we looked suspicious ♪

♪ But I think they just liked to pick on me and Paul. ♪

♪ It's been rough and rocky travelin' ♪

♪ But I'm finally standing upright on the ground. ♪

♪ And after takin' several readings ♪

♪ I'm surprised to see my mind's still fairly sound. ♪

♪ Oh, I guess Nashville was the roughest ♪

♪ But you know I say the same about them all. ♪

♪ Yeah, I received my education ♪

♪ In the cities of the nation, ♪

♪ Me and Paul. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Now bring it down a bit.

♪ ♪

♪ On a package show in Buffalo ♪

♪ With us and Kitty Wells and Charlie Pride, ♪

♪ Well, the show was long and we were sittin' there ♪

♪ And we'd come to play and not just for the ride. ♪

♪ Yeah, we drank a lot of single-barrel whiskey ♪

♪ So I don't know if we went on that night at all. ♪

Ha.

♪ But I don't think they missed us. ♪

♪ I guess Buffalo ain't geared for me and Paul. ♪

♪ It's been rough and rocky travelin' ♪

♪ But I'm finally standing upright on the ground. ♪

♪ And after takin' several readings ♪

♪ I'm surprised to see my mind's still fairly sound. ♪

♪ Oh, I guess Nashville was the roughest ♪

♪ But you know I say the same about them all. ♪

♪ Yeah, we received our education ♪

♪ In the cities of the nation, ♪

♪ Me and Paul. ♪

♪ Yeah, we received our education ♪

♪ In the cities of the nation, ♪

♪ Me and Paul. ♪

♪ ♪

[audience cheers]

Thank you.

One song I'm singing is with, uh, Lyle Lovett.

We're doing "Shotgun Willie".

Played "Shotgun Willie" when I first started playing out

when I was 18 years old, so that was --

I'm thrilled to sing that one with my old friend, Ray Benson.

I remember Willie told me that Jerry Wexler had

signed him to Atlantic Records, and they went up to New York.

And he was sitting in his hotel room the night before,

and he didn't have enough songs.

And he said, "It really gave me the confidence to know

"that I could do it.

"I could write a song the night before and put it on an album

and do it."

It's hard to think of Willie Nelson thinking

he can't write a song.

This is one Willie wrote sitting around in his underwear.

[music - "Shotgun Willie"]

♪ ♪

♪ Shotgun Willie sits around in his underwear, ♪

♪ Bitin' on a bullet and pullin' out all of his hair. ♪

♪ Shotgun Willie's got all his family there. ♪

Tell them about it, Lyle.

♪ Well, now, you can't make a record ♪

♪ If you don't know nothing to say. ♪

♪ Yeah, you can't make a record ♪

♪ If you ain't got nothing to say, y'all. ♪

♪ And you can't play music ♪

♪ If you don't know nothing to play. ♪

That's right.

♪ Shotgun Willie sits around in his underwear, ♪

♪ Bitin' on a bullet and pullin' out all of his hair. ♪

♪ Shotgun Willie's got all of his family there. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Now, John T. Floor was working for the Ku Klux Klan. ♪

♪ At six foot five, John T. was a hell of a man. ♪

♪ Well, he made a lotta money ♪

♪ Selling sheets on the family plan. ♪

♪ Shotgun Willie sits around in his underwear, ♪

♪ Bitin' on a bullet and pullin' out all of his hair. ♪

♪ Shotgun Willie's got all of his family there. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Amanda.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Shotgun Willie sits around in his underwear, ♪

♪ Bitin' on a bullet and pullin' out all of his hair. ♪

♪ Shotgun Willie's got all of his family there. ♪

Y'all sing, everybody now.

♪ Shotgun Willie sits around in his underwear, ♪

♪ Underwear, yeah, yeah, yeah, ♪

♪ Bitin' on a bullet and pullin' out all of his hair. ♪

Yo.

♪ Shotgun Willie's got all of his family there. ♪

♪ ♪

[audience cheers]

Now, just as Willie was inspired by the generation

of musicians who preceded him, he himself has inspired

countless young artists who've come after him.

He's been a beacon of light and a generous mentor

for too many to mention.

Today his influence is stronger than ever.

And up next, a living example of that:

let's hear it for The Avett Brothers.

[audience cheers]

[music - "Bloody Mary Morning"]

Whoo!

♪ ♪

♪ Well, it's a bloody Mary morning. ♪

♪ Baby left me without warning sometime in the night. ♪

♪ So I'm flying down to Houston ♪

♪ with forgetting her the nature of my mind. ♪

♪ As we taxi down the runway ♪

♪ With the smog and the haze ♪

♪ Reminding me of how I feel, ♪

♪ Just a country boy learning ♪

♪ That the pitfalls of the city ♪

♪ Are extremely real. ♪

♪ All the nightlife and the parties, ♪

♪ Temptation and deceit ♪

♪ The order of the day. ♪

♪ Well, it's a bloody Mary morning ♪

♪ And I'm leaving Baby ♪

♪ Somewhere in LA. ♪

♪ Well, it's a bloody Mary morning. ♪

♪ Baby left me without warning ♪

♪ Sometime in the night. ♪

♪ So I'm flying down to Houston ♪

♪ With forgetting her the nature of my mind. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Well, our golden jet is airborne ♪

♪ And Flight 50 cuts a path ♪

♪ Across the morning sky. ♪

♪ And a voice comes on the speaker ♪

♪ Reassuring us Flight 50 is the way to fly. ♪

Hey!

♪ And a hostess takes our order, ♪

♪ Coffee, tea or something stronger ♪

♪ To start off the day. ♪

♪ Well, it's a bloody Mary morning ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm leaving Baby ♪

♪ Somewhere in LA. ♪

Hey!

♪ Well, it's a bloody Mary morning. ♪

♪ Baby left me without warning ♪

♪ Sometime in the night. ♪

♪ But I'm flying down to Houston ♪

♪ With forgetting her the nature of my mind. ♪

♪ Yeah, I'm flying down to Houston ♪

♪ With forgetting her the nature of my mind. ♪

♪ ♪

[audience cheers]

Every time I step up to sing with him,

I do like to sing right with him because it's just the joy

of collaboration.

And he's the dude.

He's the man.

There was a show at the Roxy in Los Angeles

and I saw Willie kind of look over at me.

He took off Trigger and I thought to myself:

no way.

He walked over to me and put it over my head,

and we played a song.

And I played Trigger.

And I will never forget that as long as I live.

[Emmylou] I just try to get into his rhythm.

And I don't worry about it too much because with Willie

it's like: just do what you love, love what you do.

You know what I mean?

It's not about perfection; it's about the feeling.

Are we not all blessed to be living in the time of Willie?

[audience cheers]

[music - "Pancho and Lefty"]

♪ Livin' on the road my friend ♪

♪ Is gonna keep you free and clean. ♪

♪ Now you wear your skin like iron. ♪

♪ Your breath's as hard as kerosene. ♪

♪ Weren't your momma's only boy, ♪

♪ But her favorite one it seems. ♪

♪ She began to cry when you said goodbye ♪

♪ And sank into your dreams. ♪

♪ Pancho was a bandit boy, ♪

♪ His horse was fast as polished steel. ♪

♪ He wore his gun outside his pants ♪

♪ For all the honest world to feel. ♪

♪ Pancho met his match you know ♪

♪ In the deserts down in Mexico. ♪

♪ Nobody heard his dyin' words. ♪

♪ That's the way it goes. ♪

♪ All the Federales say ♪

♪ They could've had him any day. ♪

♪ They only let him slip away ♪

♪ Out of kindness, I suppose. ♪

♪ Lefty, he can't sing the blues ♪

♪ All night long like he used to. ♪

♪ The dust that Pancho bit down south ♪

♪ Ended up in Lefty's mouth. ♪

♪ The day they laid poor Pancho low, ♪

♪ Lefty split for Ohio. ♪

♪ Where he got the bread to go, ♪

♪ There ain't nobody knows. ♪

♪ All the Federales say ♪

♪ They could've had him any day. ♪

♪ They only let him slip away ♪

♪ Out of kindness, I suppose. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ The boys tell how Pancho fell, ♪

♪ Lefty's livin' in a cheap hotel, ♪

♪ The desert's quiet and Cleveland's cold. ♪

♪ And so the story ends we're told. ♪

♪ Pancho needs your prayers, it's true. ♪

♪ Save a few for Lefty too. ♪

♪ He only did what he had to do. ♪

♪ Now he's growing old. ♪

♪ All the Federales say ♪

♪ They could've had him any day. ♪

♪ They only let him slip away ♪

♪ Out of kindness, I suppose. ♪

♪ A few gray Federales say ♪

♪ Could've had him any day. ♪

♪ They only let him go so long ♪

♪ Out of kindness I suppose. ♪

♪ ♪

[audience cheers]

Emmylou!

Willie!

[Jamey] Growing up, Willie was one of my heroes.

Well, one of his heroes was Hoagy Carmichael.

He-he proved that over and over again.

He's recorded so many Hoagy Carmichael songs

over the years.

And, uh, you know, Georgia's just another one of those

that show his depth as an artist.

Thousands of people have recorded Georgia

over the years,

and I think Willie's is one of the most popular, uh, by far.

Tonight I'll be singing Georgia on my Mind.

So-so, yeah, it's kind of a-a-a nod to my hero,

who was making a nod to his hero.

I'm like everybody else out here, man,

I just love Willie Nelson.

[audience cheers]

He got me hooked on golf,

some other things.

[audience laughter]

[laughs]

But the best thing he ever got me hooked on

was straight-up old-fashioned country music.

I love Willie.

[audience cheers]

I'm going to do a song written by

one of Willie's heroes.

This is one, uh, Ray Charles and Willie both

made a big old hit out of.

[music - "Georgia on my Mind"]

♪ ♪

♪ Georgia, ♪

♪ Georgia ♪

♪ The whole day through. ♪

♪ Just an old sweet song ♪

♪ Keeps Georgia on my mind. ♪

♪ Georgia, ♪

♪ Georgia, ♪

♪ A song of you ♪

♪ Comes as free and clear ♪

♪ As moonlight through the pines. ♪

♪ Other arms ♪

♪ Reach out to me. ♪

♪ Other eyes ♪

♪ Smile tenderly. ♪

♪ Still in peaceful dreams ♪

♪ I see the road ♪

♪ Leads back to you. ♪

♪ Georgia, ♪

♪ Georgia, ♪

♪ No peace I find. ♪

♪ Just an old sweet song ♪

♪ Keeps Georgia on my mind. ♪

♪ Other arms, ♪

♪ They reach out to me. ♪

♪ Other eyes ♪

♪ Smile tenderly. ♪

♪ Still in peaceful dreams ♪

♪ I see the road ♪

♪ It leads back to you. ♪

♪ Well, now, Georgia, ♪

♪ Georgia, ♪

♪ No peace I find. ♪

♪ Just an old sweet song ♪

♪ Keeps Georgia on my mind. ♪

♪ Just an old sweet song ♪

[audience cheers]

♪ Keeps Georgia on my mind, ♪

[vocals] ♪ On my mind, ♪

♪ On my mind ♪

[vocals] ♪ On my mind, ♪

♪ On my mind ♪

[vocals] ♪ On my mind, ♪

[vocals] ♪ On my mind, ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[audience cheers]

He opens his mouth and he plays his guitar

and it's instantly identifiable.

And there's nobody, I don't think, on this planet

that's as identifiable as him.

Shame on anybody who doesn't have Willie Nelson

as a songwriting reference.

I don't know if I'd be doing what I'm doing without

Willie Nelson having gone before me.

[Jamey] Songwriting is a very personal business.

It can be intimidating to share so much of yourself.

And I don't think Willie Nelson has ever been intimidated

about writing songs.

[George] Well, Willie's always been one to experiment

in every kind of music that there is.

I mean he just has no boundaries.

There's no telling what he's going to do next, you know.

I'm just happy to be around while he's doing it.

He doesn't write simple songs, but in a way

they're really straight.

There's not a lot of extra stuff.

Being direct and clear is an art form.

It's not easy to do.

It's just remarkable songwriting.

Maybe I need to go back to school.

I wrote a song called "Crazy" we want to throw at you.

The original title was "Stupid" [audience laughs].

But I worked on that.

You ready?

As I'll ever be.

[music - "Crazy"]

♪ ♪

♪ Crazy. ♪

♪ I'm crazy for feelin' so lonely. ♪

♪ I'm crazy, ♪

♪ Crazy for feelin' so blue. ♪

♪ And I knew ♪

♪ You'd love me as long as you wanted ♪

♪ And then someday ♪

♪ You'd leave me for somebody new. ♪

♪ Worry, ♪

♪ Why do I let myself worry? ♪

♪ Wonderin' ♪

♪ What in the world did I do? ♪

♪ I'm crazy ♪

♪ For thinking that my love could hold you. ♪

♪ Crazy for tryin', ♪

♪ Crazy for cryin'. ♪

♪ And I'm crazy for loving you. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Worry, ♪

♪ Why do I let myself worry, ♪

♪ Wonderin' ♪

♪ What in the world did I do? ♪

♪ I'm crazy ♪

♪ For thinking that my love could hold you. ♪

♪ I'm crazy for tryin', ♪

♪ Crazy for cryin'. ♪

♪ And I'm crazy ♪

♪ For lovin' ♪

♪ You. ♪

♪ ♪

Willie Nelson.

Thank you, Dave.

The year was 1974.

The album was Redheaded Stranger.

The label execs said the record was too quirky for the public.

But the public had a different idea.

They embraced the record and solidified Willie's place

as a national icon.

Here to sing "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain"

from Redheaded Stranger, please welcome Vince Gill.

[audience cheers]

Well, I met Willie Nelson as a teenage kid,

opened some shows for him when I was a teenager.

And I'm honored to be here and to say thank you

for all the great music for all these years.

[music - "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain"]

♪ In the twilight glow I see you, ♪

♪ Blue eyes crying in the rain. ♪

♪ When we kissed goodbye and parted ♪

♪ I knew we'd never meet again. ♪

♪ Love is like ♪

♪ A dying ember. ♪

♪ Only memories remain. ♪

♪ Through the ages ♪

♪ I'll remember ♪

♪ Blue eyes crying in the rain. ♪

Welcome Mickey Raphael, everybody.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Some day when we meet up yonder, ♪

♪ Oh, we'll stroll hand in hand again ♪

♪ In a land that knows no parting, ♪

♪ Blue eyes crying in the rain. ♪

♪ ♪

[audience cheers]

He's just one of those people that makes you feel

like you've known him forever, where you just --

when they look at you, they look in your eye.

From the, from the first moment, you feel really

comfortable with him.

Very few people like that, that you meet and you leave the room

and you feel better for it.

He's a unique soul: there's no doubt about it.

[music - "Always on my Mind"]

♪ ♪

♪ Maybe I didn't love you ♪

[audience cheers]

♪ Quite as often as I could have. ♪

♪ Maybe I didn't treat you ♪

♪ Quite as good as I should have. ♪

♪ If I made you feel second best, ♪

♪ Girl I'm sorry I was blind. ♪

♪ But you were always on my mind. ♪

♪ You were always on my mind. ♪

♪ Maybe I didn't hold you ♪

♪ All those lonely, lonely times. ♪

♪ I guess I never told you ♪

♪ I'm so happy that you're mine. ♪

♪ Little things I should have said and done, ♪

♪ I just never took the time. ♪

♪ But you were always on my mind. ♪

♪ You were always on my mind. ♪

♪ Tell me, ♪

♪ Tell me that your sweet love hasn't died. ♪

♪ And give me, ♪

♪ Give me one more chance ♪

♪ To keep you satisfied. ♪

♪ I'll keep you satisfied. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Little things I could have said and done. ♪

♪ I just never took the time. ♪

♪ But you were always on my mind. ♪

♪ You were always on my mind. ♪

♪ You were always on my mind. ♪

♪ You were always on my ♪

♪ Mind. ♪

Thank you.

Thank you, Chris.

Thank you, Willie.

Willie is such an icon with the weed culture.

The first time you get high,

you associate it with Willie Nelson.

[laughing] Like you just do.

We went and hung out with him on his bus

and got blisteringly stoned.

And, uh, my mom has a photograph of my band, uh, and Willie.

And we all just look so high, except for Willie:

he just looks like Willie.

It doesn't matter who steps on that bus,

whether they're congressmen, senators, presidents,

I've never seen Willie jump up and try to hide the stash

because somebody's coming in-into the bus.

[laughs]

Willie said one time that a-a good song is

nothing but three chords and the truth.

I don't know if he made that up, but I heard him say it.

And this next song right here has got three chords in it,

and it's a true story about one night that I got to

hang out with Willie.

It all started when the show was over

and we were in a big line.

Everybody had their arms around each other.

We were getting ready to take a bow.

And everybody else was saying things like,

"Hey, that was a great show, man"

and, you know, "Beautiful crowd tonight"

and, you know, "It's the best ever," all that kind of stuff.

And then Willie's right next to me

and he leans over and he says, "Hey, want to go to my house

and play some poker?"

[audience laughs]

I said, "Hell, yeah.

Sounds amazing."

So this is a song I wrote.

It's called "Willie Got Me Stoned and Took All My Money".

[audience cheers]

[music - "Willie Got Me Stoned and Took All My Money"]

♪ Willie got me stoned and took all my money. ♪

♪ I was 50 dollars up but then my mind went funny. ♪

♪ It didn't really help ♪

♪ That I didn't know the rules of the game. ♪

♪ And it probably didn't help ♪

♪ That I couldn't remember my name. ♪

♪ After Willie got me stoned and took all my cash, ♪

♪ One high low split but then he kicked my ass. ♪

♪ He gave me knuckles across the table ♪

♪ But then my mind went blurry. ♪

♪ And just like a puff of smoke, ♪

♪ All my cash went up in a hurry. ♪

♪ After Willie got me stoned, ♪

♪ Took me for everything I had, ♪

♪ I had to walk home. ♪

♪ I had no money for a cab. ♪

♪ I didn't have the heart to ask anybody for a ride. ♪

♪ And nobody in the room seemed in a condition to drive. ♪

♪ After Willie got us stoned he took away my mind. ♪

♪ He sent me back to the kiddie table. ♪

♪ He took away my pride. ♪

♪ And now I'm sitting here with my band again ♪

♪ Just feeling like a joker, ♪

♪ Just thinking about how bad I really suck at playing poker, ♪

♪ And thinking about my pockets: ♪

♪ Was Willie the one who broke them? ♪

♪ And would I really take a toke if they rolled Willie up ♪

♪ And they smoked him? ♪

♪ Hell yes, I would ♪

♪ And I know it might sound funny. ♪

♪ But Willie got me stoned and took all of my... ♪

♪ Willie got me stoned and took all my money. ♪

♪ Willie got me stoned and took all my money. ♪

♪ Hell yes, I would and I know it might sound funny. ♪

♪ But Willie got me stoned and took all -- ♪

Sing along with me -- ♪ of my... ♪

♪ Willie got me stoned and took all my money. ♪

♪ Willie got me stoned and took all my money. ♪

♪ Hell yes, I would and I know it might sound funny. ♪

♪ But Willie got me stoned and took of all my money. ♪

Right on, have a good night, you guys.

Nice to be here with you.

Thank you.

Today was, at rehearsal,

was actually the first time I was ever on stage

singing with him.

I told him I was getting a complex because I was

about the only one that has never sang with Willie before.

We were talking about, Well why don t you write something?

And I was like, Mmm, I can t write with Willie.

You know.

But one morning I just got up and I said ya know,

I m just gonna take a stab at it.

I sent it to Willie.

I said, Ya know, I don t--

I m not trying to--

but do you think you might wanna do this?

And he sent me a text back and said,

Yeah, I can answer that.

I said, Cool, let s do it.

So I came up with the song

"Never Got to Sing One with Willie"

and we ended up-- he wrote some.

Yeah, I m pretty stoked to be writing with Willie Nelson.

I can t wait to walk out there.

You know, I ve got a picture in my mind of what it s

gonna be like, you know.

I m hoping it s that.

It s just gonna be incredible for me.

And I told him-- that s in the song--

you made my career, you really did.

Now, we all know Willie doesn't mind being called an outlaw.

And neither does our next artist mind being called

the king of country.

[audience cheers]

With over 35 years of smash hits under his belt,

he's got a pretty good claim to that crown.

And it may be mind-blowing to realize, but he and Willie

have never appeared together onstage.

That is a crime that's going to stop right here, right now,

in Nashville, Tennessee.

Two proud Texans, two musical giants:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Willie Nelson and the great George Strait.

[audience cheers]

[audience cheers]

Thank you.

It's my honor to be here tonight.

I want to thank Willie Nelson for having me up here

and, uh, being able to sing with him for the first time.

I'm ready if you are.

[music - "Sing One with Willie"]

♪ ♪

♪ Well, I've had a wonderful career ♪

♪ But I think it's quite queer ♪

♪ So I'm writin' this down in a song. ♪

♪ I just couldn't resist ♪

♪ 'Cause it's a nice little twist ♪

♪ And I think you'll agree this is just wrong. ♪

♪ I ain't never got to sing one with Willie ♪

♪ And I've held it inside long enough. ♪

♪ Now I ain't too proud, ♪

♪ So I'm gonna shout it out loud. ♪

♪ I ain't never got to sing one with Willie. ♪

♪ Now I've heard him with Merle, ♪

♪ Waylon, and Cash, ♪

♪ Jones and Toby. ♪

♪ That man is totally gracious. ♪

♪ But I'm thinking, "Damn, why not me?" ♪

♪ We can even sing it on TV ♪

♪ just like him and old Julio Iglesias. ♪

♪ I ain't never got to sing one with Willie ♪

♪ And I've held it inside long enough. ♪

♪ Now I ain't too proud, ♪

♪ So I'm gonna shout it out loud. ♪

♪ I ain't never got to sing one with Willie. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ We've traveled back and forth ♪

♪ Up and down all the highways, ♪

♪ Wherever our big buses go. ♪

♪ And I think that it's great, ♪

♪ To finally sing one with Strait. ♪

♪ And our fans will all love it, ♪

♪ I hope. ♪

Well I do, Willie.

♪ I finally get to sing one with Strait. ♪

♪ And I think that it's been long enough. ♪

♪ And I'm mighty proud. ♪

♪ Just listen to the crowd. ♪

♪ I finally got to sing one with ol' George Strait. ♪

♪ Look at me now. ♪

♪ I'm singing with Willie. ♪

♪ Thank you, man. ♪

♪ You just made my career. ♪

Or ruined it.

♪ We should have had somethin', Strait. ♪

♪ I knew we'd always be great. ♪

♪ And I finally got to sing one with ol' George. ♪

♪ Yeah, I'm really proud ♪

♪ So I'll shout it out loud. ♪

♪ I finally got to sing one -- ♪

With ol' George.

With ol' Willie.

Thank you, George.

Thank you, Willie.

[audience cheers]

[beep]

Yeah, I'd like him -- I like him.

He is funny

all the time.

He really loves playing the practical jokes.

We-we've never gotten into, uh, a level of-of being

prankish with each other.

But we both love dirty jokes.

But-but all the jokes and all this,

they're not always made for TV.

Suffice it to say, he's a funny guy.

Uh, what was the one...

no, no, we can't tell any of his jokes.

He's just the got the most hilarious sense of humor.

And he loves a good laugh.

But he loves it, you know, and that's --

he wouldn't have it any other way.

And that's what makes Willie Willie.

[laughing]

[audience cheers]

Willie, let's do one more song.

[audience cheers]

[music - "Goodhearted Woman"]

♪ A long time forgotten ♪

♪ Are dreams that just fell by the way. ♪

♪ And the good life he promised ♪

♪ Ain't what she's living today. ♪

♪ But she never complains ♪

♪ Of the bad times ♪

♪ Or the bad things that he's done. ♪

♪ She just talks about the good times they've had ♪

♪ And all the good times to come. ♪

♪ She's a goodhearted woman in love with a good-timin' man. ♪

♪ She loves him in spite of his ways she don't understand. ♪

♪ Through teardrops and laughter, ♪

♪ They'll pass through this world hand in hand, ♪

♪ A goodhearted woman ♪

♪ Loving a good-timing man. ♪

♪ He likes the bright lights and night life ♪

♪ And good-timin' friends. ♪

♪ And when the party's all over ♪

♪ She'll welcome him back home again. ♪

♪ Lord knows she don't understand him, ♪

♪ But she does the best that she can. ♪

♪ Just a goodhearted woman ♪

♪ In love with a good-timin' man. ♪

♪ She's a goodhearted woman in love with a good-timin' man. ♪

♪ She loves him in spite of his wicked ways ♪

♪ She don't understand. ♪

♪ Through teardrops and laughter, ♪

♪ They'll pass through this world hand in hand, ♪

♪ A goodhearted woman ♪

♪ Loving a good-timin' man. ♪

♪ She's a goodhearted woman ♪

♪ Loving a good-timin' man. ♪

♪ ♪

[audience cheers]

He's one of the great American songwriters of all time.

I don't think you can overstate his value to the

American musical tapestry.

He's been a statesman of sorts, uh, even more so

than an entertainer.

They should probably carve him on Mount Rushmore.

[laughs]

He's everything we as a country aspire to be like

because he's never been anything but authentic.

He's shown that if you are true to yourself

that you have a better chance of sticking around

and being successful.

I think that's Willie's greatest contribution.

He gave everybody permission to do what they wanted to do.

It's greatness that he has, so humbly handed out.

Willie was a hero to all of us.

His attitude and his essence, there won't be another one.

♪ On the road again. ♪

♪ Just can't wait to get on the road again. ♪

♪ The life I love is makin' music with my friends. ♪

♪ And I can't wait to get on the road again. ♪

♪ On the road again, ♪

♪ Goin' places that I've never been, ♪

♪ Seein' things that I may never see again. ♪

♪ I can't wait to get on the road again. ♪

Everybody sing.

♪ On the road again. ♪

♪ Like a band of gypsies, we go down the highway. ♪

♪ We're the best of friends, ♪

♪ Insisting that the world be turnin' our way. ♪

♪ And our way ♪

♪ On the road again. ♪

♪ Just can't wait to get on the road again. ♪

♪ The life I love is makin' music with my friends. ♪

♪ And I can't wait to get on the road again. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ On the road again. ♪

♪ Like a band of gypsies, we go down the highway. ♪

♪ We're the best of friends, ♪

♪ Insisting that the world be turnin' our way. ♪

♪ And our way ♪

♪ Is on the road again. ♪

I can't hear you.

♪ Just can't wait to get the road again. ♪

♪ The life I love is makin' music with my friends. ♪

♪ And I can't wait to get on the road again. ♪

Big finish.

♪ And I can't wait to get on the road again. ♪

♪ And I can't wait to get on the road again. ♪

♪ ♪