Energy Follows Thought

The Stories Behind My Songs

By: Willie Nelson, David Ritz, Mickey Raphael

Narrated by: Willie Nelson, Ethan Hawke

Read by Ethan Hawke, with an introduction read by Willie Nelson, himself! For the first time ever, and to help celebrate his 90th birthday in 2023, American icon Willie Nelson provides the stories behind the lyrics of 160 of his favorite songs.

From his earliest work in the 1950s to today, Willie looks back at the songs that have defined his career, from his days of earning $50 each to his biggest hits, from his less well-known songs (but incredibly meaningful to him) to his concept albums. Along the way, he also shares the stories of his guitar Trigger, his family and “family,” as well as the artists he collaborated with, including Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, Ray Charles, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Dolly Parton, and many others.

Willie is disarmingly honest—what do you have to lose when you’re about to turn 90? —meditating on the nature of songwriting and finding his voice, and the themes he’s explored his whole life—relationships, infidelity, love, loss, friendship, life on the road, and particularly poignant at this juncture of his life: mortality.

Revealing, funny, whimsical, and wise, this book is an enduring tribute to Willie Nelson's legacy.

Everything I expected it to be and then some

Loved it as expected as I read through a few songs at a time. The stories behind the songs are why I love music, and now understand why Willie's set list of late includes the songs it does. (5 shows in 12 months, you tend to wonder why certain classics aren't performed yet performing those lessor known songs clearly separate the die hard fans from the locals just out on the town in the crowd). Listening to someone read the book just hits even deeper and adding in Mickey Raphael's harmony in between just brings it on home. Like others I'd have preferred to heard this one straight from Willie, but Ethan Hawke did it justice.

Willie is a Treasure, and Here He’s opened up the chest!

Great songs, even better stories behind them. Powerful narration from Hawke is not a substitute for Willie but a fitting voice to drift away on the words.

Everything!

I loved this insight into Willie’s songs, some were new to me and some were already some of my favorites. Ethan Hawke did amazing narrating, I forgot a few times it wasn’t Willie himself reading and telling me about his songs. I loved it and I hope there is a volume 2.

Would rather read

I did not care for the narrator’s voice or how he read the book.
Wish Willie read the book.

Willie is something else

Exactly what I had hoped for, yet I hardly knew what
to expect. Willie explains his thinking with regard to his songwriting and imparts a little Yoda-like wisdom along the way. I’d have liked to hear Willie narrate it, but Ethan Hawke does a stand-up job; eventually, you accept him as the voice of Willie himself (although he is not attempting to impersonate). Makes me want to buy the actual book (a coffee table whopper with a hefty pricetag). It’s great. God bless Willie Nelson.