Willie Nelson has an absurd number of albums and songs. But as talented as he is, there is one method he employs when he really needs to get a song finished. And honestly, it's obvious when it's pointed out.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Some years ago, Willie Nelson let us in on a songwriting secret that has helped write countless classics. In 2014, Shotgun Willie sat down with Howard Stern on The Howard Stern Show. There, he explained that if he needs to finish a song, he'll hop in the car.
Many fans may know that back in the 1950s, Willie Nelson penned "Crazy," "Night Life," and "Funny How Time Slips Away" all in one week. Of course, Nelson is capable of producing a large quantity of quality songs in a short time span. But those three hits within seven days are very impressive. Especially considering he likely penned other lesser-known songs alongside them.
Howard Stern simply wanted to know how that was possible.
It turns out that he wrote all three of those songs on the road, when moving from Texas to Nashville.
"If I really need and want to write a song today, I'll get in the car and take off driving down the highway in any direction, it doesn't matter," he explained. "And I'll write a song."
Unsurprisingly, The Road Is Willie Nelson's Writing Haven
It makes sense that mindlessly driving unlocks Willie Nelson's writing potential. I mean, he's been on the road most of his life, and has been writing while travelling for decades.
Howard Stern shared that while driving, the left side of your brain shuts down. While this isn't exactly true, the essence of what he's trying to say isn't wrong. Doing a monotonous task such as driving down the highway allows your mind to wander.
This is likely why 'shower thoughts' are a thing.
And in Willie Nelson's case, driving while songwriting is something he's been doing for decades, so this practice is something instilled into him.
So if you're stuck on a creative (or even logistical) problem, maybe take a leaf out of Nelson's book and go for a drive. Just make sure to zone out completely on the roads.
