The Essential Willie Nelson lyrics

If you had not have fallen
Then I would not have found you
Angel flying too close to the ground
And I patched up your broken wing
And hung around a while
Tried to keep your spirits up

While you were feelin' down

I knew someday that you would fly away
For love's the greatest healer to be found
So leave me if you need to
I will still remember
Angel flying too close to the ground

All of me
Why not take all of me
Can't you see
That I'm no good without you
Take my arms
I want to loose them
Take my lips
I'll never use them

Your goodbye
Left me with eyes that cry
And I know that I
Am no good without you
You took the part
That once was my heart
So why not take all of me

(Repeat both verses)

Why not take all of me

Always On My Mind
Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
And 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
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind

And maybe I didn't hold you
All those lonely, lonely times
And I guess I never told you
I'm so happy that you're mine

I'm crazy
crazy for feeling so lonely
I'm crazy
crazy for feeling so blue

I know
you'd love me as long as you wanted
then someday
leave me for somebody new

(bridge)
worry
why do I let myself worry
wondring
what in the world did I do

crazy
for thinking that my love could hold you
I'm crazy for crying
I'm crazy for trying
I'm crazy for loving you

Blue skies smilin' at me
Nothin' but blue skies do I see
Bluebirds singin' a song
Nothin' but bluebirds all day long

Never saw the sun shinin' so bright
Never saw things goin' so right
Noticing the days hurrying by
When you're in love, my how they fly

Blue days, all of them gone
Nothin' but blue skies from now on
(Blue skies smilin' at me
Nothin' but blue skies do I see)

I was a highwayman
along the coach roads i did ride
sword and pistol by my side
many a young maid lost her baubbles to my trade
many a soldier shed his life blood on my blade
the masters hung me in the spring of 85
but i am still alive

i was a sailor
i was born upon the tide
the way of the sea i did abide
i sailed around the gulf of mexico
and when the yards broke off they said that i got killed

A long time forgotten the dreams that just fell by the way
the good life he promised ain't what she's been living today
but she never complains of bad times and the bad things he's done
she just talks about the good they've had
and all the good times to come

Chorus:
she's a good hearted woman in love with her good timin' man
she loves him in spite of his wicked ways she don't understand

Well, hello there
My, it's been a long, long time
How am I doing
Oh, I guess that I'm doing fine
It's been so long now,
But it seems now, that it was only yesterday
Gee, ain't it funny, how time slips away.

How's your new love
I hope that he's doin fine
I heard you told him,
That you'd love him till the end of time
Now, that's the same thing that you told me
Seems like just the other day

IÂ’LL TAKE YOU WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO

IÂ’LL PUT YOU IN MY POCKET WHO WILL KNOW

RIGHT NEXT TO MY HEART AT EVERY SHOW

IÂ’LL TAKE YOU WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO

(CHA CHA BEAT STARTS HERE)

NO MATTER WHERE OUR TRAILS WILL FINALLY WIND

OUR PATHS WILL JUST KEEP CROSSING YOURS AND MINE

UNTIL THEN AND IN MY POCKET YOU MUST GO

IÂ’LL TAKE YOU WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO

(MUSIC)

by Steve Goodman

Riding on the City of New Orleans,
Illinois Central Monday morning rail
Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders,
Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail.
All along the southbound odyssey
The train pulls out at Kankakee
Rolls along past houses, farms and fields.
Passin' trains that have no names,
Freight yards full of old black men

The sun is filled with ice and gives no warmth at all
the skies were never blue
the stars are raindrops searching for a place to fall
and I never cared for you

I know you won't believe these thing I tell you
I know you won't believe
your heart has been forewarned all men will lie to you
and your mind cannot conceive
now all depends on what I say to you
and on your doubting me

In the twilight glow I see
Blue eyes cryin' in the rain
When we kissed goodbye and parted
I knew we'd never meet again

Love is like a dyin' ember
Only memories remain
Through the ages I'll remember
Blue eyes cryin' in the rain

Some day when we meet up yonder
We'll stroll hand in hand again
In a land that knows no partin'
Blue eyes cryin' in the rain

Now my hair has turned to silver

Hello walls, (Hello, hello.)
How'd things go for you today
Don't you miss her.
Since she up and walked away
And I'll bet you dread to spend another lonely night with me,
But lonely walls, I'll keep you company.

Hello window, (Hello, hello.)
Well, I see that you're still here.
Aren't you lonely,
Since our darlin disappeared
Well look here, is that a teardrop in the corner of your pane

Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through.
An' just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.

Georgia, Georgia, a song of you,
Comes as sweet 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.

Forgiving you was easy,forgeting seems to take the longest time.I just keep thinking and your memory is forever on my mind.you know I'll aways love you and I can't forget the day when you were mine.

Forgiving you was easy but forgetting seems to take the longest time.

Counted the stars on the 4th of July
Wishing we were rockets bursting in the sky
Talking about redemption and leaving things behind
As the sun sank west of the Mendocino County line

As fierce as Monday morning feeling washed away
I orchestrated paradise, couldn’t make you stay
You dance with the horses through the sands of time
As the sun sinks west of the Mendocino County line

Counted the stars on the 4th of July
Wishing we were rockets bursting in the sky
Talking about redemption and leaving things behind
As the sun sank west of the Mendocino County line

As fierce as Monday morning feeling washed away
I orchestrated paradise, couldn’t make you stay
You dance with the horses through the sands of time
As the sun sinks west of the Mendocino County line

The postman delivered
A past due bill notice
The alarm clock rang two hours late
The garbage man left all the trash
On the sidewalk
And the hinges fell off of the gate

And this morning at breakfast
I spilled all the coffee
And I opened the door on my knee
But the last thing I needed
The first thing this morning
Was to have you walk out on me

Last night you came home late

Shotgun Willie sits around in his underwear
Bitin' a bullet, pullin' out all of his hair
Shotgun Willie has got all of his family there

You can't make a record if you ain't got nothin' to say
You can't make a record if you ain't got nothin' to say
You can't play music if you don't know nothin' to play

repeat 1st verse

Well, John T. (Fours) was workin' with the Klu Klux Klan

Livin on the road my friend, is gonna keep you free and clean
Now you wear your skin like iron
Your breath as hard as kerosene
You 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

I've got a long list of real good reasons for all the things I've done,
I've got a picture in the back of my mind of what I’ve lost and what I've won
I've survived every situation knowing when to freeze and when to run
And regret is just a memory written on my brow and there's nothing I can do about it now.
I've got a wild and a restless spirit I held my price through every deal

I grew up a-dreamin' of bein' a cowboy,
and Lovin' the cowboy ways.
Pursuin' the life of my high-ridin' heroes,
I burned up my childhood days.
I learned of all the rules of the modern-day drifter,
Don't you hold on to nothin' too long.
Just take what you need from the ladies, then leave them,
With the words of a sad country song.
My heroes have always been cowboys.
And they still are, it seems.

Me and Paul by Willie Nelson

It's been rough and rocky travelin',
But I'm finally standin' upright on the ground.
After takin' several readings,
I'm surprised to find my mind`s still fairly sound.

I guess Nashville was the roughest,
But I know I said the same about them all.
We received our education
In the cities of the nation, me and Paul.

Almost busted in Laredo,

A one, two, three, two, two three.

I let love die, broke a woman's heart

Have only myself to blame

Fate ran its course, I suffered a loss
I learned a lesson in pain

I cheated and lied, I took love for granted.

Acting as cold as ice

But it's all in the past

I won't make the same mistake twice

Once is enough

It's one time too many

Change is rough

Ooo once is enough

He looked down into her brown eyes,
Said, Say a prayer for me.
She threw her arms around him,
Whispered, God will keep us free.
They could hear the riders comin,
He said, This is my last fight.
If they take me back to Texas,
They won't take me back alive.

**Chorus**
There were seven Spanish Angels,
At the alter of the Sun.
They were prayin' for the lovers,
In the valley of the gun.

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,
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

Night Life
Written by Willie Nelson, Walter Breeland, and Paul Buskirk

When the evenin' sun goes down
You will find me hangin' 'round
Oh, the night life, it ain't no good life
But it's my life

Many people just like me
Dreamin' of old used-to-be's
Oh, the night life, it ain't no good life
Ah, but it's my life

Listen to the blues that they're playin'
Listen what the blues are sayin'

The Mississippi delta

Was shining like a national guitar

I am following the river, down the highway

Through the cradle of the Civil War

I'm going to Graceland, Graceland

Down in Memphis, Tennessee

I'm going to Graceland

Poorboys and pilgrims with families

And we are going to Graceland

My traveling companion is nine years old

He is the child of my first marriage

Always On My Mind
Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
And 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
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind

And maybe I didn't hold you
All those lonely, lonely times
And I guess I never told you
I'm so happy that you're mine

Livin on the road my friend, is gonna keep you free and clean
Now you wear your skin like iron
Your breath as hard as kerosene
You 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

by Steve Goodman

Riding on the City of New Orleans,
Illinois Central Monday morning rail
Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders,
Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail.
All along the southbound odyssey
The train pulls out at Kankakee
Rolls along past houses, farms and fields.
Passin' trains that have no names,
Freight yards full of old black men

Forgiving you was easy,forgeting seems to take the longest time.I just keep thinking and your memory is forever on my mind.you know I'll aways love you and I can't forget the day when you were mine.

Forgiving you was easy but forgetting seems to take the longest time.

I've got a long list of real good reasons for all the things I've done,
I've got a picture in the back of my mind of what I’ve lost and what I've won
I've survived every situation knowing when to freeze and when to run
And regret is just a memory written on my brow and there's nothing I can do about it now.
I've got a wild and a restless spirit I held my price through every deal

IÂ’LL TAKE YOU WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO

IÂ’LL PUT YOU IN MY POCKET WHO WILL KNOW

RIGHT NEXT TO MY HEART AT EVERY SHOW

IÂ’LL TAKE YOU WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO

(CHA CHA BEAT STARTS HERE)

NO MATTER WHERE OUR TRAILS WILL FINALLY WIND

OUR PATHS WILL JUST KEEP CROSSING YOURS AND MINE

UNTIL THEN AND IN MY POCKET YOU MUST GO

IÂ’LL TAKE YOU WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO

(MUSIC)

The postman delivered
A past due bill notice
The alarm clock rang two hours late
The garbage man left all the trash
On the sidewalk
And the hinges fell off of the gate

And this morning at breakfast
I spilled all the coffee
And I opened the door on my knee
But the last thing I needed
The first thing this morning
Was to have you walk out on me

Last night you came home late

To all the girls I've loved before
Who travelled in and out my door
I'm
glad they came along
I dedicate this song
To all the girls I've loved
before
To all the girls I once caressed
And may I say I've held the best

For helping me to grow
I owe a lot I know
To all the girls I've
loved before
The winds of change are always blowing
And every time I try
to stay

He looked down into her brown eyes,
Said, Say a prayer for me.
She threw her arms around him,
Whispered, God will keep us free.
They could hear the riders comin,
He said, This is my last fight.
If they take me back to Texas,
They won't take me back alive.

**Chorus**
There were seven Spanish Angels,
At the alter of the Sun.
They were prayin' for the lovers,
In the valley of the gun.

I was a highwayman
along the coach roads i did ride
sword and pistol by my side
many a young maid lost her baubbles to my trade
many a soldier shed his life blood on my blade
the masters hung me in the spring of 85
but i am still alive

i was a sailor
i was born upon the tide
the way of the sea i did abide
i sailed around the gulf of mexico
and when the yards broke off they said that i got killed

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,
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

Whiskey river take my mind don't let her mem'ry torture me

Whiskey river don't run dry you're all I've got take care of me
Whiskey river take my mind...

I'm drowning in a whiskey river bathing my mem'ried mind in the wetness of its soul

Feeling the amber currant flowing from my mind and leaving a heart you left so cold

Whiskey river take my mind...

[ guitar ]

I grew up a-dreamin' of bein' a cowboy,
and Lovin' the cowboy ways.
Pursuin' the life of my high-ridin' heroes,
I burned up my childhood days.
I learned of all the rules of the modern-day drifter,
Don't you hold on to nothin' too long.
Just take what you need from the ladies, then leave them,
With the words of a sad country song.
My heroes have always been cowboys.
And they still are, it seems.

If you had not have fallen
Then I would not have found you
Angel flying too close to the ground
And I patched up your broken wing
And hung around a while
Tried to keep your spirits up

While you were feelin' down

I knew someday that you would fly away
For love's the greatest healer to be found
So leave me if you need to
I will still remember
Angel flying too close to the ground

Take the ribbon from your hair

Shake it loose and let it fall

Playing soft against your skin

Like the shadows on the wall

Come and lay down by my side

Till the early morning light

All I'm taking is your time

Help me make it through the night

I don't care if it's right or wrong

I don't try to understand

Let the devil take tomorrow

'Cause tonight I need a friend

Can't go home if you're goin' by the mill

Cause the bridge's washed out at the bottom of the hill

Big Creek's up Little Creek's level plow my corn with a double shovel
Stay all night stay a little longer dance all night dance a little longer

Pull off your coat throw it in the corner don't see why you can't stay a little longer

I'm so ashamed of my eyes cause they still cry for you
After they both watched my hand wave goodbye to you
I've told them time and time again that this will never do
And I've told them how you always laughed at teardrops
I'm so ashamed of my arms for missing you
Last night I woke up just in time to see them reach for you
And now my heart confesses it's still wants you too

Oh, they tell me of a home far beyond the skies

And they tell me of a home far away

Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise

Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day

Chorus:

Oh, the land of cloudless days

Oh, the land of an unclouded sky

Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds ries

Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day

Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through.
An' just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.

Georgia, Georgia, a song of you,
Comes as sweet 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.

All of me
Why not take all of me
Can't you see
That I'm no good without you
Take my arms
I want to loose them
Take my lips
I'll never use them

Your goodbye
Left me with eyes that cry
And I know that I
Am no good without you
You took the part
That once was my heart
So why not take all of me

(Repeat both verses)

Why not take all of me