5 Things We Learned from Willie Nelson’s New Book ‘Energy Follows Thought’

With his latest book, Willie Nelson offers fans an unfiltered look at the stories behind some of his most beloved songs. Released today (October 31), Energy Follows Thought: The Stories Behind My Songs offers firsthand reflections on 160 tracks from his extensive career.

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Along with the direct inspiration behind each tune, the influential singer/songwriter openly discusses his beliefs, missteps, lessons learned, and what drives him to keep creating. Here are five surprising tidbits we learned from Willie Nelson’s stellar new release:

1. Lyrics Come First

In the first pages of Energy Follows Thought, Nelson opens up about his proven creative process. His method of songwriting always starts with the lyrics. For a track to fully come together, the country legend says the lyrical storyline must be completed before any melodies or musical accompaniment can be added.

2. Quitting Drinking Changed Everything

When Nelson reflects on his 1970 track “I Gotta Get Drunk,” he remarks the song could be categorized as “stupid.” But that label is in reference to the story he tells within the lyrics, which reflected his own life at the time. He goes on to emphasize just how impactful his relationship with alcohol was, and even notes that he believes it would have led to his death if he hadn’t made the choice to stop drinking for good.

3. He’s Not Afraid to Hold onto Pain

Throughout Energy Follows Thought, readers find nostalgic recollections of brief moments with close friends. He offers raw and honest remembrances of late creative collaborators, including Waylon Jennings and Ray Price. Nelson repeatedly opens up about how pain and grief can stay with you through the years, and how he often revisits those feelings to help craft compositions.

4. He Finds Inspiration Everywhere—Including His Dreams

Although Nelson is quick to note he doesn’t often remember details of his dreams upon waking, there have been times that creative inspiration came during his slumber. His song “Local Memory,” a cut from his 1969 record My Own Peculiar Way, grew out of a dream sequence that took him back to his hometown of Abbott, Texas.

5. Love Is What Keeps Him Writing

In one of many reflections on his 90 years of life, Nelson credits love songs as his creative anchor. Writing and performing compositions that are based around that feeling and type of connection—whether romantic or platonic—is what brings hope and inspiration, allowing him to continue forging ahead.

Photo by Pamela Springsteen, Courtesy of Shock Ink