Book Recommendation – Energy Follows Thought

By the title of this book, you might think that it might be some sort of self-help book, or maybe a book about mindfulness, or some sort of science/psychology book. “Energy Follows Thought” just sounds … profound. It sounds deep, right? To a degree, it can get a bit deep at times. It can be sad, happy, silly, romantic, and more. So just who wrote this interesting book? You may know him as “The Red-Headed Stranger.”

If you have read any of my music posts (and as of late, there have been many), you know that I love the stories behind songs. I love to hear how a melody came about and why certain lines were put in. I love to hear about what was going on when a guitar riff was created and the reactions of people listening to it the first time. When this song came up on one of the audio apps I have, I had to get it.

I’ve been a fan of Willie for a long time. On every Willie album, there has always been a song that I have been able to apply to whatever was going on in my life at the time. As years have gone by, I can go back to those albums and find songs that take on new meaning with whatever is happening now. The power of music is really something! Willie certainly has an amazing ability to write great songs! The stories of many of them appear in this book.

The Goodreads synopsis:

For the first time ever, and to help celebrate his 90th birthday in 2023, American icon Willie Nelson provides the stories behind the lyrics of 160 of his favorite songs, along with a dynamic assortment of never-before-seen photos and ephemera.

From his earliest work in the 1950s to today, Willie looks back at the songs that have defined his career, from his days of earning $50 each to his biggest hits, from his less well-known songs (but incredibly meaningful to him) to his concept albums. Along the way, he also shares the stories of his guitar Trigger, his family and “family,” as well as the artists he collaborated with, including Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, Ray Charles, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Dolly Parton, and many others.

Willie is disarmingly honest—what do you have to lose when you’re about to turn 90? —meditating on the nature of songwriting and finding his voice, and the themes he’s explored his whole life—relationships, infidelity, love, loss, friendship, life on the road, and particularly poignant at this juncture of his mortality.

Revealing, funny, whimsical, and wise, this book is an enduring tribute to Willie Nelson’s legacy.

It was interesting to hear just how Willie puts it all together. Words first. Music later. One article stated that, “while his guitar is practically an extension of his body at this point, he has always started the writing process by thinking up words rather than strumming chords. To him, it’s doing the hard part first.”

Willie says, “The melodies are easier to write than the words.” He does not, however, write those words down, not even on a napkin. “I have a theory,” he said, “that if you can’t remember ‘em, it probably wasn’t that good.”

Whether you like country music or not, I think you will enjoy not only the stories behind the songs, but the lyrics to so many powerful songs.