Last Leaf On The Tree—My Album Review

On Friday, November 1, Willie Nelson quietly released his 153rd album, Last Leaf On The Tree. It’s his 76th studio album and the second record Nelson has released this year. As I listened, I couldn’t help but remember back to the days of the old Three Ring Circus in CowMess (Commerce) Texas, listening to If I Can Find A Clean Shirt, a 1991 collaboration between Waylon and Willie, way too loud and far too late. As I sit here sipping my morning coffee, I realize contemplating the amount of music Willie Nelson has recorded is genuinely mind-blowing.

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Back in the early days of The Devotional Guy™, I had different featured themes to help me establish a blogging rhythm and develop writing consistency like My Monday Morning Cup and Turntable Thursdays. Over time, these faded, mainly in favor of freer and less progmatic titles.

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Simply said, Last Leaf On The Tree is a beautiful record. Focused on aging gracefully, it may be one of the finest records ever made. The album features deeply introspective covers of thoughtfully written songs by what I can only presume are among Willie’s favorites—i.e. what I might find on his turntable if I were to visit his house.

As you listen to Last Leaf On The Tree, you will be pleased to discover songs by songwriters like Beck, Tom Waits, Neil Young and Nina Simone, as well as Willie and his son Micah.

His age gives his voice a gravitas and depth that makes the listener hearken to the wisdom flowing from his mouth to their ears. These are songs about life and death. They are songs about love and loss. It’s an album about what it means to be human, not without hope, albeit not without struggle either.

Last Leaf— the title track invites you to walk into an open door that reveals a man facing death with grace. It’s originally written and recorded by Tom Waits.

If It Wasn’t Broken—the Spanish guitar immediately perks your ears, drawing you into this song about life, love, and loss.

Robbed Blind is a tale of theft and betrayal first recorded by the Rolling Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards. What do you do when you get robbed and can’t call the police?

The House Where Nobody Lives is another cover of a Tom Waits tune focused on what truly makes a home—love.

Are You Ready For the Country? this remake of Neil Young’s classic from his 1972 opus Harvest gives this particular record a pep in its step after a series of songs offering deep introspection.

Do You Realize?? a cover of the Flaming Lips that reminds me of how crazy it is that we are spinning around on the third rock from the sun. As humans, how are we not in constant wonder and awe by something only a higher power than us could create?

Wheels, written and recorded in 2017 by Willie’s son Micah under his moniker “Particle Kid,” is a psychedelic ode to (I believe) longevity and determination.

Color of Sound is a song penned by Micah and Willie that examines many of life’s paradoxes and paradigms.

There really isn’t a bad song on this record and I fall more in love with each listen.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 NIV

At 91, logic would say Mr. Nelson is close to exiting the stage. But listening to this album makes me hopeful that ol’ Willie will be hanging around for quite a few more years. I am interested in hearing what the aging troubadour wlll share through his gift of song.

[There’s even a secret song hidden on the final track.]

I encourage you to give it a listen.

Until our next conversation…

Remember:

God is good. All the time. 

No matter what.

Don’t worry about what’s next. Enjoy what’s now. 

Love, peace, and joy,

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™

#JesusStrong