At the remarkable age of 91, Willie Nelson has gifted the world with his new album, Last Leaf on the Tree, and it’s bursting with his signature country twang and wit. Full of catchy tunes and personal lyrics, this album is the perfect backdrop for a nice, calm evening on the porch.
Willie Nelson is a true icon of American music, embodying the timeless spirit of country music and fighting for what’s right. With a career spanning nearly seven decades, Willie has been no redheaded stranger to changing the music industry, influencing countless artists and creating new genres of music. True to his word, this cowboy would much rather give you a song than diamonds or gold, writing 331 songs throughout his life.
Willie’s songs capture the American spirit through heartfelt storytelling and blend of country, folk, and outlaw elements. His songs deal with love, loss, and life’s struggles in a sincere tone. Willie has long been an advocate for various political issues, such as environmentalism and the rights of family farmers. Additionally, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp formed Farm Aid in 1985 to raise money and awareness for family farmers, agriculture, and the impact of industries on farming. Farm Aid still goes strong today with yearly concerts. Through his music and activism, Willie continues to inspire others and keep the spirit of country music alive.
This album was produced by Willie’s son, Micah Nelson. Last Leaf on the Tree features mainly covers from rather unexpected artists such as rock star Beck or jazz singer Nina Simone. Willie also performed a new rendition of his classic 1962 song, The Ghost. Most importantly, Willie sang a new song, Color of Sound, written by both him and his son Micah. According to Micah Nelson, this album is about “facing death with grace”. After the recent passing of Kris Kristofferson, Willie is the last of legendary country supergroup ‘The Highwaymen,’ and is truly the last leaf on the tree.
Somehow, despite decades of singing, Willie’s voice sounds stronger than ever. If you told me that this album was from fifty years ago, I’d believe you. While his voice sounds amazing, what sounds even better is his guitar, Trigger. Willie and Trigger have been playing together for fifty-five years, ever since a drunkard smashed his old guitar. Trigger was played so well it seemed like it was playing itself.
The album opens with the title track ‘Last Leaf,’ originally sung by Tom Waits in 2011. When Waits sang the song, it sounded purely melancholic, but Willie added a tone of nostalgia and a warm feeling to it. The Waits version was great, but Willie made the song his. His version feels like an old man telling a story to his grandkid. The song describes how the singer has lived through many different generations evident by the line “But I’ve been here since Eisenhower And I’ve outlived even he.” The singer insists that no matter when their leaf falls off the tree, they’ll still be here through memory and song. But the song still acknowledges that the singer will one day die, and that’s okay, but they’ll keep fighting as long as possible. The song is a perfect fit for Willie, who’s kept singing this whole time. Overall, this tune was definitely a solid 8/10 and was an immediate add to my playlist.
My favorite song on the album is ‘If It Wasn’t Broken,’ a song originally by Sunny War. This song was jarring to see at first, since War is more of a folk-punk singer than country, but Willie nailed it. The song is about how heartbreak and failure are essential to understanding what real love is and building connections. In my eyes, Willie made this song forever his. With Willie’s aged voice, the song sounded like he’s experienced this in a thousand lifetimes. The way he sings this song seems like he’s singing to a certain person, but that person is each and every one of us. Overall, I cannot think of a single thing that would make it better.
The only original song on the album is ‘Color of Sound,’ which is beautifully written by Willie and Micah Nelson. If this really is Willie’s last original song, then I can’t think of a better way to go out. It asks listeners the question “If silence is golden, what color is sound?” which asks the reader to think about what influence sound plays on their life. Every day, you hear music, but do you actually listen to it? ‘Color of Sound’ is a great reminder that Willie still has it, even after seventy years. Ranking this song is difficult. It’s undeniably great, but I don’t think it holds up to some of his old originals like “On The Road Again” or “Shotgun Willie”. Overall, I’d give it a solid 7/10.
This album overall was a phenomenal listening experience. Each song felt so different to the last that it felt like each song was the start of a new album. Unfortunately, due to his age and the general themes of the album, this might just be the last stand-up for this Highwayman. If this is the last time Willie hits the road, you just know he’ll be on the road again in spirit. Who knows, maybe he’ll come back again as a highwayman, a sailor, or even a single drop of rain? But no matter what, you can bet he’ll be always on my mind and always in the hearts of his fans.
You can listen to Last Leaf on the Tree here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6eMDYYqusiE28W797x0ArK?si=d26245f3a4e446ed
