Have a Willie Nice Day

Birthday wishes for Willie Nelson, who turns 74 today. Willie does not need the last name here, he is the closest thing we have to royalty in Austin (even though he lives a few miles down the road). They might as well just go ahead and build a statue for him. What are they waiting for? Let the man see his statue. Willie has plenty to do with making Austin what it is, and what it has been. He's been through a hell of a lot of stuff, including being the recent victim of the World's Easiest Drug Bust. Instead of a Willie video, I present this mp3 from Bruce Robison called "What Would Willie Do?", lyrics below. It's a funny song.
Listen to "What Would Willie Do"

I was lost, in trouble and strife
I heard a voice and it changed my life
And now it's a brand new day,
And I ain't ashamed to say
You're not alone, when you're down and out
I think you know who I'm talkin' about
When I don't know how 'll get through
I ask myself, what would Willie do?

Long ago, he came unto us
His words were simple,
But they went right through us
And the whole world sang along,
But then they didn't want to hear his songs
He was gone, and we thought we'd lost him
But he'd just grew his hair and moved to Austin
And all of the people smiled

They came to hear him sing from miles
And like a miracle all the rednecks and the hippies,
From New York city down to Mississippi
Stood together and raised a brew
When your skies are grey,
What would Willie do?

You know sometimes I wonder,
When I ain't gettin' nowhere
What would Willie do,
When things get too much to bear
I can see him sittin' on his lonely old bus
And he's got his problems just like any of us
I bet he'd just take a deep breath,
And he'd let 'em all go
And then he'd take another deep breath,
And he'd let 'em all go
And then he'd take another deep breath,
And he'd hold it...
And then I bet he'd feel hungry,
In a way that seems strange
Yes hungry, for all the things he just can't change

Like the time he passed out in his own bedroom
And his ex-wife sewed him up in the sheet,
And she beat him with a broom,
And he forgave her
And you think that that's rough,
Then the IRS came and they took away all his stuff
They took his golf course and his recording studio
And he just went on out and did another show
So when it's all coming down on you
I think you'd better ask yourself,
What would Willie do?

What would Willie do, when it's all gone wrong
The answer is in the words of a sad country song
There's millions down that road,
And with a word he's gonna lighten their load
He loves all the people, the rank and the randy
If you don't believe it, take a look at the family
They'll tell you that it's true
When it's all gone wrong, what would Willie do?

What would Willie do, he'd take a little time
And talk to old Rooster as they drive on down the line
There's millions down that road,
And with a word he's gonna lighten their load
He loves all the people no matter their races
Hell he even made a hit country song with Julio Iglesias
And that ain't easy to do

When it's all too much
When the game gets rough
When they call your bluff
What would Willie do?

Sound file from Commotion PR