Willie Nelson Appearing Openly Stoned on Larry King Tonight

It’s all over the news that Willie Nelson – stoned – is on Larry King Live tonight. In this clip, below, he answers King’s voyeuristically excited questions about smoking. I don’t know about you but for perhaps the 2nd or 3rd time in my life, I’ll be watching Larry King this evening.

Willie Nelson: how do I love you? Let me count the ways. The last time I saw Willie live –2001 if I recall correctly – I was knocked out by his unassuming attitude and his sense of equity. Some aging stars – like Tom Jones – are used to getting women’s knickers thrown towards them on-stage. At the show I saw, women walked their undies down the aisle to hand them to Willie and he in turn removed an item of his own – like the red scarf around his forehead or a hat – to offer them something in exchange.

I love Willie’s battles with the authorities, his open dope love and his exquisite voice. I love that for decades he has been touring with his older sister Bobbie, who accompanies him on piano. He continues, at 77, to tour, record and do fundraisers.

Why do I love him? Oh those braids! I was always a sucker for braids.

Willie is no hypocrite and he’s no chilled-out stoner: he’s an activist. He’s worked for NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) for many years and is a trustee of the Dayton International Peace Museum. He’s been involved in environmental struggles for decades, is a mainstay of FarmAid, and is one of the key investors in a bio-diesel company.

I found out on Wikipedia that Willie was a passionate supporter of Dennis Kucinich’s primary campaign. “In January 2008, Nelson filed suit against the Texas Democratic Party. Nelson alleges that the party violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution when it refused to allow co-plaintiff Dennis Kucinich to appear on the primary ballot because he had scratched out part of the loyalty oath on his application.[12]”

But most urgently, there’s his music – his voice and his guitar. Check out both on this lovely clip of “Funny How Time Slips Away.”

Willie is not slowing down. There’s Willie’s 2006 song release: "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other,” his musical push for gay rights (see the clip below). He had earlier become an AIDs activist after losing a close friend. In 2007 he founded the “Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute.”

Here’s his "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other,” put to some Brokeback Mountain footage, as I couldn’t find any decent footage of Willie singing these amazing lyrics. (Click on the youtube link)

Long live Willie Nelson!

Comments

[Verandah]

Bravo, Willie,

I'll keep my undies but here is my heart. Glad to see him looking so fine, to watch his fretwork and hear his brilliant songs. Willie raises the bar.

And for Katz, big thanks for sharing this. xox Verandah

[leigh]

Thank you so much for posting the Willie Nelson video (cowboys). My fiancee is a fan but had never heard that song; he's buying it on iTunes this very moment. Thanks!

[Alan Venable]

Great post!

[Sue Katz]

Wow, it's nice to know that I'm in such fine company - or company with such refined musical tastes! Of course as a songwriter yourself, Verandah, you know from whence you speak. (And I agree about hanging onto my undies.) Leigh, I had never heard that song either, and it's very cool. Alan, encouragement is such a treat, so thanks!

[Allen Young]

This was a feel-good piece. Thanks. I will try to figure out how to post it on Facebook.

[Sue Katz]

I have intermittent access to my email while I am hiding out to write, so my response to your message may not be as prompt as you usually expect. If it is a pressing matter, contact me on my cellphone.
Thanks,
Sue

[Sue Katz]

I have intermittent access to my email while I am hiding out to write, so my response to your message may not be as prompt as you usually expect. If it is a pressing matter, contact me on my cellphone.
Thanks,
Sue