Even after more than seven decades in music, Willie Nelson says there are certain songs that can still bring tears to his eyes.
During a recent interview with GQ, the country music legend was asked whether any songs still make him “misty.” Despite a career spanning generations and countless performances, Willie revealed that a few songs continue to hit him just as deeply as they always have.
The Songs That Still Touch Willie’s Heart
Among the songs closest to Willie’s heart are two of his most beloved recordings: “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” and “Always on My Mind.”
Willie released “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” in 1980 as part of the soundtrack for Honeysuckle Rose. The emotional ballad explores love, heartbreak and loss, themes that have clearly stayed with Willie throughout the decades.
Then there’s “Always on My Mind,” a song that wasn’t originally written for Willie but ultimately became one of the defining recordings of his career.
Written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher and Mark James in the early 1970s, the song was recorded by several artists before Willie released his version. His rendition went on to become a massive country hit and earned him three Grammy Awards.
Even today, “Always on My Mind” remains one of the songs most closely associated with Willie Nelson.
But Willie’s emotional connection to music doesn’t stop with his own catalog.
When asked about other artists’ songs that still affect him, Willie said there is “a lot” of music that means something to him. He mentioned classics such as “Stardust” and “Moonlight in Vermont,” while also pointing to the music of legends Hank Williams and Bob Wills.
For Willie, music has always been about more than entertainment. It has the power to connect people across generations and bring them together.
“There’s a whole lot of good music out there,” Willie said. “I still think music is what brings us all together. Politics separates everybody. Music brings us back together.”
That belief may help explain why Willie has remained so passionate about performing after more than 70 years in the business.
With a career spanning hundreds of recordings and more than 150 albums, Willie Nelson continues to take the stage and share his music with audiences around the world.
And after all these years, some songs still have the power to stop the legend himself in his tracks.