Tune Tuesday – I Never Cared For You

This is a song that I have always loved by Willie Nelson. Granted, I was unaware that he had recorded it many times before the album I heard it on. It was originally recorded by Willie in 1964. Waylon Jennings covered it in 1996 and Alison Krauss covered it in 2017.

The reason I love the song is because it is a man proclaiming his love for someone, but you’d never know it by the title. You see, that’s why I love it. He is singing to someone who has been told that all men are liars. So in order to proclaim his love to her, he tells her only lies.

I began listening to Willie Nelson in the late 70’s and 80’s (thanks to my dad and my grandpa). I came to love his music and the arrangements of his songs. I have always said that his Stardust album in one of my top 3 albums of all time.

In 1989, he released an album entitled A Horse Called Music. I Never Cared For You is on this album, and it is this version that I heard first. Willie get’s you immediately with the opening guitar and the first line. I love the minor key that the song is in and it really fits the lyrics.

Here is the version I was familiar with, I hope you enjoy it.

I’m not sure, but this may be the original. It is off The Essential Willie Nelson. I feel like the 1989 version is much better.

This version is similar, from his Me and Paul album.

In 1998, Willie recorded it again for his Teatro album with piano and a longer intro.

The sun is filled with ice and gives no warmth at all
And the sky was never blue
The stars are raindrops searching for a place to fall
And I never cared for you

I know you won’t believe these thing I tell you
I know you won’t believe
Your heart has been forewarned all men will lie to you
And your mind cannot conceive
Now all depends on what I say to you
And on your doubting me
So I’ve prepared these statements far from true
Pay heed and disbelieve

The sun is filled with ice and gives no warmth at all
The sky was never blue
Stars are raindrops searching for a place to fall
And I never cared for you

And the sun is filled with ice and gives no warmth at all
The sky was never blue
The stars are raindrops searching for a place to fall
And I never cared for you
I never cared for you
I never cared for you