Born during the Great Depression and raised by his grandparents, Nelson wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at ten. During high school, he toured locally with the Bohemian Polka as their lead singer and guitar player. After graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the U.S. Air Force but was later discharged due to back problems. After his return, Nelson attended Baylor University for two years but dropped out because he was succeeding in music. During this time, he worked as a disc jockey in Texas radio stations and a singer in honky-tonks. Nelson moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he wrote "Family Bible" and recorded the song "Lumberjack" in 1956. He also worked as a disc jockey at various radio stations in Vancouver and nearby Portland, Oregon. In 1958, he moved to Houston, Texas, after signing a contract with D Records. He sang at the Esquire Ballroom weekly and he worked as a disk jockey. During that time, he wrote songs that would become country standards, including "Funny How Time Slips Away", "Hello Walls", "Pretty Paper", and "Crazy". In 1960 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and later signed a publishing contract with Pamper Music which allowed him to join Ray Price's band as a bassist. In 1962, he recorded his first album, ...And Then I Wrote. Due to this success, Nelson signed in 1964 with RCA Victor and joined the Grand Ole Opry the following year. After mid-chart hits in the late 1960s and the early 1970s, Nelson retired in 1972 and moved to Austin, Texas. The ongoing music scene of Austin motivated Nelson to return from retirement, performing frequently at the Armadillo World Headquarters.
In 1973, after signing with Atlantic Records, Nelson turned to outlaw country, including albums such as Shotgun Willie and Phases and Stages. In 1975, he switched to Columbia Records, where he recorded the critically acclaimed album Red Headed Stranger. The same year, he recorded another outlaw country album, Wanted! The Outlaws, along with Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser. During the mid-1980s, while creating hit albums like Honeysuckle Rose and recording hit songs like "On the Road Again", "To All the Girls I've Loved Before", and "Pancho and Lefty", he joined the country supergroup The Highwaymen, along with fellow singers Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson.
In 1990, Nelson's assets were seized by the Internal Revenue Service, which claimed that he owed $32 million. The difficulty of paying his outstanding debt was aggravated by weak investments he had made during the 1980s. In 1992, Nelson released The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories?; the profits of the double album—destined to the IRS—and the auction of Nelson's assets cleared his debt. During the 1990s and 2000s, Nelson continued touring extensively, and released albums every year. Reviews ranged from positive to mixed. He explored genres such as reggae, blues, jazz, and folk.
Nelson made his first movie appearance in the 1979 film The Electric Horseman, followed by other appearances in movies and on television. Nelson is a major liberal activist and the co-chair of the advisory board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), which is in favor of marijuana legalization. On the environmental front, Nelson owns the bio-diesel brand Willie Nelson Biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oil. Nelson is also the honorary chairman of the advisory board of the Texas Music Project, the official music charity of the state of Texas.
Nelson uses a variety of music styles to create his own distinctive blend of country music, a hybrid of jazz, pop, blues, rock and folk. His "unique sound", which uses a "relaxed, behind-the-beat singing style and gut-string guitar" and his "nasal voice and jazzy, off-center phrasing", has been responsible for his wide appeal, and has made him a "vital icon in country music", influencing the "new country, new traditionalist, and alternative country movements of the 1980s and 1990s".
In 1969, the Baldwin company gave Nelson an amplifier and guitar with their "Prismatone" pickup. During a show in Helotes, Texas, Nelson left the guitar on the floor of the stage, and it was later stepped on by a drunk man. He sent it to be repaired in Nashville by Shot Jackson, who told Nelson that the damage was too great. Jackson offered him a Martin N-20 Classical guitar, and, at Nelson's request, moved the pickup to the Martin. Nelson purchased the guitar unseen for $750 and named it after Roy Rogers' horse "Trigger". The next year Nelson rescued the guitar from his burning ranch.
Constant strumming with a guitar pick over the decades has worn a large sweeping hole into the guitar's body near the sound hole—the N-20 has no pick-guard since classical guitars are meant to be played fingerstyle instead of with picks. Its soundboard has been signed by over a hundred of Nelson's friends and associates, ranging from fellow musicians to lawyers and football coaches. The first signature on the guitar was Leon Russell's, who asked Nelson initially to sign his guitar. When Nelson was about to sign it with a marker, Russell requested him to scratch it instead, explaining that the guitar would be more valuable in the future. Interested in the concept, Nelson requested Russell to also sign his guitar. In 1991, during his process with the IRS, Nelson was worried that Trigger could be auctioned off, stating: "When Trigger goes, I'll quit". He asked his daughter, Lana, to take the guitar from the studio before any IRS agent arrived there, and then deliver it to him in Maui. Nelson then concealed the guitar in his manager's house until his debt was paid off in 1993.
Nelson is widely recognized as an American icon. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998. In 2011, Nelson was inducted to the National Agricultural Hall of Fame, for his labor in Farm Aid and other fund raisers to benefit farmers. In 2015 Nelson won the Gershwin Prize, the lifetime award of the Library of Congress. In 2018 The Texas Institute of Letters inducted him among its members for his songwriting. He was included by Rolling Stone on its 100 Greatest Singers and 100 Greatest Guitarists lists.
Healing Hands of Time
Willie Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those healing hands of time
And soon they'll be dismissing you
From this heart of mine
They'll lead me safely through the night
And I'll follow as though blind
My future tightly clutched within
They let me close my eyes just then
Those healing hands of time
And soon they'll let me sleep again
Those healing hands of time
So already I've reached mountain peaks
And I've just begun to climb
I'll get over you by clinging to
Those healing hands of time
I'll get over you by clinging to
Those healing hands of time
In Willie Nelson's song "Healing Hands of Time," the singer describes the pain of missing someone they once loved and how time can act as a healing force. The first stanza talks about how time is working to heal the singer's heart, but also how time will eventually help them let go of the person they were missing. In the second stanza, the singer puts their faith in time, as their future is "tightly clutched within those healing hands," believing that eventually time will help them move on from their heartache.
The third stanza seems to suggest that the singer has already experienced some healing, perhaps small triumphs or moments when they were able to let go, represented by "mountain peaks" they've already reached. However, they know that healing is a gradual process, and that they still have a ways to go. The repetition of the phrase "I'll get over you by clinging to those healing hands of time" at the end of each stanza emphasizes the idea that time is the only thing that can truly heal the pain of a lost love.
Overall, "Healing Hands of Time" is a poignant reminder that healing takes time, and that it is often a long and difficult journey to move on from someone we once loved deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
They're working while I'm missing you
The hands of time are constantly moving forward even though I'm missing you.
Those healing hands of time
The passage of time can help heal wounds.
And soon they'll be dismissing you
Eventually, time will help me let go of you.
From this heart of mine
I need time in order to heal emotionally.
They'll lead me safely through the night
Time can help me cope even in difficult times.
And I'll follow as though blind
I will trust in the healing nature of time even if I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.
My future tightly clutched within
Time holds the promise of a better future.
Those healing hands of time
Time is my source of healing.
They let me close my eyes just then
Time can provide a small respite from the pain of missing you.
And soon they'll let me sleep again
Time will help me find peace even while I sleep.
So already I've reached mountain peaks
I've made progress in moving on even though it's just the beginning.
And I've just begun to climb
I have a long journey ahead of me.
I'll get over you by clinging to
I will rely on the healing power of time to help me move on from you.
Those healing hands of time
Time is my path to healing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Willie Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Abalone Kid
Willie believes!
Elvis believed!
Blood coming from all over his body and NAKED hanging on that cross like torture weapon! What a Lord and God and Savior! He had to do it. HE is God the Son and only His body and blood could pay the sins price of ALL ever! 1 John 2:1-2. Subscribed.
This channel is a blessing known to God before the world was made. Ephesians 1:1-14. Oh Lord bless this channel. I will pray for you and those gathered here.There is a Crown in Heaven awaiting all who faithfully share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a soul is saved. ( "JESUS SAVES" below) 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20; Philippians 4:1. " For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy." The Apostle Paul further testified; Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek".
2 Samuel chapter 22:verse 50 "Therefore I will praise you, O Lord, out of the countries, and I will praise your name."
JESUS SAVES
Mark 16: verse 15: "And He said unto them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
How can anyone hear the "good" news? Romans 10:17 "Then faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God."
The Birth Of Jesus Christ
Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the LORD shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and call His name Immanuel." Hebrew: עִמָּנוּאֵל, "God with us" in human flesh but without sin. The Savior of the world was born to die for our sins! He did so 33 years later. His terrible ordeal, the body was mutilated, the blood was poured out, but the bones were not broken, buried in a Tomb and risen on the 3rd day.
Isaiah 53: "5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
"I am the way, the truth and the life: no one comes to the Father except through me." John 14.6
1 Corinthians 15:
"1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;." Ephesians 1:7
“For he (God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5: 21.
Ephesians 2:8 " For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting in His death and in the shedding of His blood as payment for our sins, as well as in His burial and resurrection from the dead the third day, and we will be saved! John 20:24-31; See 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4.
Romans 10:
"9 If you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart man believes in righteousness; And a confession by mouth is given to salvation.
13 For the one who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Salvation and forgiveness of sins is a blessing of all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit immediately which seals us in Christ Ephesians 1:13-14. Those who reject salvation, "perish"(John 3:16) which means their sins are judged and suffer separation from God forever called the second death. Rev.21:8
Kimmie Willis
I'm speechless when ever I hear Mr. Nelson's voice. He will take you to that place with his voice. That place that has no name, but we've all been,...under the sound of Willie's voice. Willie touches your heart, and it he will pull a tear right from your eyes once you've listened to his Voice and his words. There are billions of people in this world, but this one man was blessed with a special gift. His gift,...a voice that is quite close to what I'd imagine an angels voice would sound like. I'm going to stop writing this comment, so I can listen to Willie's music now...so I can sit back, relax and go back to that place, that place with no name🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶❤
Saniya A
I love you willie! Your music calms and soothes me in my most difficult times and has helped me a lot. Your voice is amazing and I can hear it for the rest of my life. You're my rock forever
Saniya A
@Willie Nelson dude this is not a good thing you're doing here, pretending to be willie and getting our hopes up. I almost cried when I saw this. Willie is very important to me and you're playing with people's emotions. Stop it.
Anne Smith
To say I loved that beautiful song is an understatement. It was spendidly sung and the words are absolutely meaningful. Who else but Willie Nelson can explain tenderness with words.
Rita Armitage
There's only one William neslson
Willie Nelson
Thank you 😊
Robert Bradley
Hello Ann
C Calhoun
I play & sing this one, often. One of his best. I'd put it in my Willie top 10.
Antonio Augusto
Músico de primeira qualidade, cantor excepcional
Maria Correia
Linda Canção!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹