Willie Nelson Recalls the Prolific Road Trip Where He Wrote 3 Hit Songs in 1 Week

Writing is often considered as a sacred thing. Given this cherished characteristic, it is typically performed in a personally significant space. Whether at the office, in your bedroom, on a deck, or anywhere conducive to productivity. The space in which one writes is a place that allows for no distractions between the writer and the writing. Hence, when Willie Nelson writes, he goes to his car for a creative retreat.

In 2014, Nelson sat down on The Howard Stern Show and divulged this information. Stating, “If I really need and want to write a song today, I’ll get in the car and take off driving down the highway.” The “Why” to Willie is fascinating, and one that writers alike can understand. Consequently, it is this “Why” that has led Nelson to write some of his most famous songs from behind the wheel.

Willie Nelson’s Drive from Texas to Tennessee

In 1960, Nelson left Houston and headed straight for Nashville. Aiming to make it big in the business, before he even stepped out of his car he already had three hits under his belt. He just didn’t know it yet. Nelson wrote “Night Life,” “Crazy,” and “Funny How Time Slips Away,” while making the country music exodus.

It was this drive that delivered Nelson one of his many big breaks. Upon reaching Nashville, he went to Tootsies on Broadway, played “Crazy” on the jukebox, and then Patsy Cline’s husband went to play it for her that night. Cline and Nelson went on to record the song just a week later, according to Nelson on Stern. Nelson’s 11-hour drive holds nearly 60-plus years of music history.

Drivings’ Divine Nature

Stern asks Nelson if he’s a religious man, and Nelson merely responds, “Probably.” However, it is the act of driving that seemingly delivers songs from the heavens into Nelson’s catalog. Per the interview, Stern utters, “Well maybe it’s like a gift from God.” Nelson briefly replies, “Well that’s for sure.” Despite this portion of the interview not being fleshed out to the fullest extent. One can wonder, what divine happenings happen with Nelson writing in his car.

It seems Nelson’s Nashville career was started on the road. The road for Nelson is what the garden was for Claude Monet. A creative space surrounded by an impenetrable energy that becomes an incubator for creativity. Thank goodness for Nelson’s trip to Nashville, and the many other car rides that produced hit songs.

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