Country music legend (and my personal guru) Willie Nelson was arrested again last week for pot possession after Willie’s tour bus was stopped at a Sierra Blanca, Texas checkpoint and a diligent officer smelled Willie Nelson marijuana. That lead to a search and reportedly police found 6 ounces of weed, which Willie manned up and admitted was his.
The Red Headed Stranger was arrested and booked in the Hudspeth County jail. He was eventually released after posting a $2500 bond.
Perhaps Willie will see this as a much-needed wake-up call and quit all this gateway grass smokin’ before it leads to something terrible and ruins his career! He needs to realize that having a healthy body and mind at 77 years of age after smoking pot for 50 years is only flirting with disaster! (Also, I don’t know about you, but I personally feel a lot safer without that monster WIllie Nelson out on the streets!)
As a tribute to how “the more things change the more they stay the same” I offer up Willie Nelson reciting the lyrics from his classic outlaw tune “Me and Paul” about life on the road with his drummer Paul English, originally recorded for the album Yesterday’s Wine back in 1971.
I though I would insert the lyrics to “Me and Paul” – pay particular attention to that second verse 🙂
It’s been rough and rocky travelin’,
But I’m finally standing upright on the ground.
And after takin’ several readings,
I’m surprised to find my mind’s still fairly sound.
I thought 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,
But for reasons that I’d rather not disclose,
But if you’re stayin’ in a motel there and leave,
Just don’t leave nothin’ in your clothes.
And at the airport in Milwaukee,
They refused to let us board the plane at all,
They said we looked suspicious,
But I believe they like to pick on me and Paul.
And on a package show in Buffalo
With us and Kitty Wells and Charlie Pride.
The show was long and we was just sittin’ there
And we’d come to play and not just for the ride.
And we drank a lot of whiskey,
So I don’t know if we went on that night at all.
But I don’t think they even missed us
I guess Buffalo ain’t geared for me and Paul.
It’s been rough and rocky traveling
But I’m finally standin’ upright on the ground.
And after takin’ several readings,
I’m surprised to find my mind’s still fairly sound.
I thought 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.
And here is Willie and Family (including Paul on drums) performing the song on the Andy Kershaw show on BBC Radio One in June 1998:
Another indication of how years of pot smoking can destroy your body and mind is this video of a ruined Willie Nelson in the 1990s performing “I Never Cared For You” from the classic Daniel Lanois produced album Teatro:
Willie reportedly faces up to six months in jail if convicted, but if that happens I think we will see the most violent clashes in Texas since the Alamo!
Love you Willie!
