Willie Nelson To Release Reggae Album

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) Country music icon Willie Nelson is trying something a little different. Nelson, 72, will release a long-awaited reggae album, "Countryman" in July.

He shot video in Jamaica this month for a cover of Jimmy Cliff's reggae classic "The Harder They Come" and Johnny and June Carter Cash's country music classic "I'm a Worried Man."

"Willie started the project 10 years ago when he first came to Jamaica, but it's only been completed now," Mike Cacia, who worked on the album videos, said Thursday.

Nelson, 72, began production on "Countryman" in 1995. The project was shelved when the country star switched labels, and revived in 2004 after he signed on with Nashville-Tenn.-based Lost Highway Records.

Cacia manages reggae singer Toots Hibbert, who appears in "The Harder They Come" video and sings on the 12-track CD, which Lost Highway will release July 12.

TOBY KEITH LYRICS

"Weed With Willie"

I always heard that his herb was top shelf
Lord I just could not wait to find out for myself.
Well don't knock it till you've tried it.
And I've tried it my friend.
I'll never smoke Weed with willie again!

Now we learned a hard lesson in a small Texas town
He fired up a fat boy and he passed it around
The last words I spoke before they tucked me in
I may discount Bungee jump but,
I'll never smoke weed with Willie again.

[Chorus:]
I'll never smoke weed with Willie again
My party's all over before it begins
You can pour me some Old Whiskey River my friend.
But I'll never smoke weed with Willie again

We hopped on his old bus the Honeysuckel Rose
The party was Huntsville, it was after the show
Alone in the front lounge, just me and him
I took one friendly puff and the grim creeper set in

[Chorus]
Now we're passin' the guitar, we're tellin' good jokes
I can tell one's a comin' 'cause I'm smellin' smoke
No I do not partake I just let it pass by
With a grin on my face and a great contact high
[Chorus]
In the fetal position with drool on my chin
We broke down and smoked weed with Willie again
/p

What Would Willie Do?
by Bruce Robison

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 afraid to say
You're not alone when you're down and out
And I think you know who I'm talking about
When I don't know how I'll get through
I ask myself, what would Willie do?

Well 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 just grew his hair and he moved to Austin
And all of the people smiled, they came to hear him sing from miles
Like a miracle all the rednecks and hippies
From New York City down to Mississippi
Stood together and raised a brew
When it's all gone wrong, what would Willie do?

You know sometimes I wonder when I ain't gettin' nowhere
What would old Willie do, when it all gets too much to bear
And I can see him on his lonely old tour bus
And he's got his problems just like any of us
And 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 let it all go
And then he'd take another deep breath...
and he'd hold it
Ah and 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 is 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's rough, well then the IRS came and they took away all of his stuff
They took his golf course and his recording studio, and he just went out and did another show
So when it's all coming down on you
You better ask yourself, what would Willie do?

What would Willie do, well he'd travel so far with nothing but a song and his old guitar
And a tour bus and some semi-trucks, thirty crew men and a little bit of luck
Well he loves all the people, the ugly and the randy
If you don't believe me take a look at the Family
And they'll tell you that it's true
When skies are gray, what would Willie do?

What would Willie do, well he'd take a little time
And talk to old Rooster as he'd 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, so when it's all too much, what would Willie
When the game gets tough what would Willie
When they call your bluff, what would Willie do?

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.