Willie Nelson, “The Party’s Over”

“The Party’s Over” is the title track to a 1967 album Willie Nelson recorded in Nashville for RCA. The song comes from the interim period after Nelson had found success as a songwriter in Nashville with hits like “Crazy” and “Funny How Time Slips Away” but before the songwriter decamped to Austin to reestablish his career in the ‘70s with landmark albums for Columbia like Red Headed Stranger. Nelson’s 1967 version of the song utilizes the classic “Nashville Sound,” popular at the time. The song swings with slick production and wispy strings. Nelson’s voice at the time was not considered one of Music City’s finest; though on “The Party’s Over” he perfectly captures the sad ambivalence of the social life. The song was covered by Phosphorescent on their 2009 album, To Willie. At American Songwriter’s office last year, Phosphorescent’s Matthew Houck said he’d always known which Willie Nelson songs he’d want to record. “I didn’t pick them anytime recently,” Houck said in our Sessions interview. “They’re all songs that I have just always loved…Once I realized that I could do a full-length record, the To Lefty From Willie record came to mind and I thought, ‘I can do that.’ Then once I knew it was ten songs – it was those 10 songs I have always loved.”

“The Party’s Over”

Turn out the lights the party’s over
They say that all good things must end
Let’s call it a night the party’s over and tomorrow starts the same old thing again

What a crazy, crazy party never seen so many people
Laughin’, dancin’, look at you you’re havin’ fun
But look at me I’m almost cryin’ but that don’t keep your love from dyin’
Misery ’cause for me the party’s over

Turn out the lights the party’s over
They say that all good things must end
Let’s call it a night the party’s over and tomorrow starts the same old thing again

Once I had a love undyin’ I didn’t keep it, wasn’t tryin’
Life for me was just one party and then another
Broke her heart so many times had to have my party wine
But one night she said sweetheart the party’s over

Turn out the lights the party’s over they say that all good things must end
Let’s call it a night the party’s over and tomorrow starts the same old thing again

Written by Willie Nelson