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30th out of 85 books
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211 voters
Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road
You won't see no sad and teary eyes When I get my wings, and it's my time to fly Just call my friends and tell them There's a party, come on by So just roll me up and smoke me when I die
In Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, Willie Nelson muses about his greatest influences and the things that are most important to him, and celebrates the family, friends, and colleagues wh...more
In Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, Willie Nelson muses about his greatest influences and the things that are most important to him, and celebrates the family, friends, and colleagues wh...more
ebook, 192 pages
Published
November 13th 2012
by HaperCollins
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Mar 31, 2013
Joseph
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
random-stuff,
abandoned-never-finished
Okay I read a fair chunk of this, but as much as I love Willie Nelson the singer, I'd had enough. I'm so glad I didn't buy this book. I checked it out from the local library on a seven day special. The book is well I don't know exactly, it's like Willie sort of dumped everything out on his keyboard in between tokes. Or if he was playing poker or dominos as he apparently does a lot, he had somebody else write or record some stuff. Speaking of weed, Willie lets us know that "I've never had trouble...more
In Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, Willie Nelson muses about his greatest influences and the things that are most important to him, and celebrates the family, friends, and colleagues who have blessed his remarkable journey. Willie riffs on everything, from music to poker, Texas to Nashville, and more. He shares the outlaw wisdom he has acquired over the course of eight decades, along with favorite jokes and insights from family, bandmates, and close friends. Rare family pictures, beautiful
In this memoir, the legendary Willie Nelson shares thoughts about his life. While traveling on the road, he muses about many topics from his upbringing and greatest influences, to his mistakes and regrets.
Willie is open and very frank about all of his thoughts. He discusses God, and what he strongly feels is the role we are meant to play in the world. His common sense thoughts on the environment are connected to this.
Willie openly discusses his influences and muses, giving credit where credit is...more
Willie is open and very frank about all of his thoughts. He discusses God, and what he strongly feels is the role we are meant to play in the world. His common sense thoughts on the environment are connected to this.
Willie openly discusses his influences and muses, giving credit where credit is...more
It’s one thing when a famous person happens to have a drug habit. It’s something else altogether when society—and the celebrity, for that matter—cannot figure out where the person stops being a person and becomes just another drug user.
In Willie Nelson’s third book, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, the reader is treated to a very sad forward by co-writer Kinky Friedman in which Nelson’s life is compared to the Virgin birth before sharing how the singer/songwriter wrote new lyrics on the disca...more
In Willie Nelson’s third book, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, the reader is treated to a very sad forward by co-writer Kinky Friedman in which Nelson’s life is compared to the Virgin birth before sharing how the singer/songwriter wrote new lyrics on the disca...more
2 likes · like · see review
An in-depth look at Willie Nelson's life is not what this book contains. Rather, it reminds me of a collection of random, probably baked thoughts that Willie had written down on coffee cups, rolling papers, cocktail napkins, and random set lists as the thoughts came to him. Did I feel like I got a good idea of what it's like to live in the mind of Willie Nelson for a few hours? Absolutely, and I wanted to cry, curl up in a ball, cuss, and then eat a bag of Cheetos. But once this book was over, I...more
Ever wonder what it would be like to get high with Willie Nelson, and just listen to whatever he had to say? Check out Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die. The Subtitle is “Musings from the Road,” and that’s exactly what it is. No plot, no bio, no co-author… just whatever Willie wrote in his notebook in 2011 and 2012. The book is a brief collection of random memories, jokes, and song lyrics that I found pretty entertaining as a vacation read, in large part because it really gives some insight int...more
This book is basically a collection of tiny bits of thought from Willie Nelson and members of his band and family. While it is pretty disconnected and repetitive at times (for example, he introduces one long time band member as a long time band member four times in the course of the book) it gives an interesting peak into the life of an icon. Not so much as autobiographical work as a tribute to himself and his philosophy, what this mostly did was make me want to read his autobiography. I found t...more
As my 2-star rating indicates, it was an okay book. I tend to avoid books by entertainers because they seem so shallow. Jimmy Buffett's might be an exception. However, this one was not. I picked it up because it seemed an easy read over Christmas break. I was not wrong. With all the testimonials by family and friends, perhaps Willie created this book to be used as a eulogy, or a missal, at his memorial service. If you have ever attended a memorial service where well-meaning relatives drone on an...more
2 likes · like · see review
I wanted a quick read while between books for "book club", and it certainly is a quick read. The book is broken up with lots of snippets from family and friends, random memories and song lyrics. Nothing is really held together with a theme, except for the hero worship everyone had for him. This became pretty tedious, and I'm pretty sure his daughter Susie is bat-shit crazy. So some points like that are entertaining and Willie offered a nugget of insight here or there, but not really worth the re...more
I went between two and three stars on this, and in the end went for the third star since I did mostly like it. This is more memoir than his previous book, The Tao of Willie, which I previously read. In a way, it is like sitting with Willie and just letting him reminisce. Some sections are more interesting than others, so the book does lend itself to browsing for the interesting parts. There are some rambling segments too, but overall I think fans will be pleased with this book. Willie does have...more
If you are a Willie Nelson fan, read this book. If you are NOT a Willie Nelson fan, then you should be, and you will be if you read this book. Willie is a great man, poet, philosopher and family man. The book? Why the book is a work of art. There are lyrics, ( mostly his own) and illustrations by his son Micah.
We all know a lot of things about Willie Nelson, his music, his tribulations and his charity. I had no idea that he was a philosopher, or a man so loving that his patchwork family doesn't...more
We all know a lot of things about Willie Nelson, his music, his tribulations and his charity. I had no idea that he was a philosopher, or a man so loving that his patchwork family doesn't...more
50 likes · like · see review
If you love Willie Nelson, you'll probably like this book. If you think he's a scoundrel; well, it's probably not on your to read list, anyway. Fairly (as of the Ides of March, 2013) current updates on the singer and his family and closely linked musical compatriots. I really like that he 'handed over the mic' to his fellow musicians and family members to provide their spin on the topic at hand throughout the book.
For me, this was a quick read, I didn't want to walk away once I started, and foun...more
For me, this was a quick read, I didn't want to walk away once I started, and foun...more
This book reads like a "love letter" to Willie Nelson from his wives, kids, band mates, family members, management team, etc.
Willie writes about whatever is on his mind at the moment and his musings are interspersed with homages from his loved ones who appear to travel with him 24/7 on his never ending tour.
I came away wondering, Willie at 79 will not go on forever. So...what will become of them all when he moves onto the next plane?
I enjoyed the book! It's in Willie's words...no ghost-writers h...more
Willie writes about whatever is on his mind at the moment and his musings are interspersed with homages from his loved ones who appear to travel with him 24/7 on his never ending tour.
I came away wondering, Willie at 79 will not go on forever. So...what will become of them all when he moves onto the next plane?
I enjoyed the book! It's in Willie's words...no ghost-writers h...more
In Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings From the Road, Willie Nelson presents a series of vignettes, memories, lyrics to songs, dirty jokes, and thoughts about a wide variety of issues ranging from religion to songwriting to biofuel to marijuana. But what strikes me most about this work is Nelson’s love for his family. In the interest of disclosure, I will say up front that I am a fan of Willie Nelson. I recall listening to him on the 8-track player when I was a child. He’s on my iPod. I’...more
I like Willie Nelson. I find him to be a talented songwriter and country singer. I seems he's had a long and interesting life. However, this is not the best book on his life. This is a rambling saga of thoughts running through Willie Nelson's mind at the time he penned this short book.
I would have liked to hear more about Willie's experiences writing songs, singing, and recording and perhaps more about living on the road. What we get in this books is Willie's thoughts and opinions, with a few st...more
I would have liked to hear more about Willie's experiences writing songs, singing, and recording and perhaps more about living on the road. What we get in this books is Willie's thoughts and opinions, with a few st...more
Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die is a road journal that has the feel of Reader’s Digest and the faint aroma of ganja. Half road diary, half autobiography, half lyrics reprints, this ManBearPig tome can be read anywhere. The jokes, thoughts (including some on Occupy Wall Street), and memories range from the wry observations (“do it wrong until it feels right”) to enlightened advice (a vaporizer is better on a singer’s lungs than smoking marijuana).
Yes, Willie beats the re-legalization and Farm...more
Yes, Willie beats the re-legalization and Farm...more
Here's one of those memoirs that is chock full of random anecdotes, shout-outs to and from family, friends and musical associates (sometimes all at once), yet less insightul on average than the better ones (Duke Ellington's "Music is My Mistress"). This features less of a presence from an editor than his recent "The Tao of Willie" which is usually a bad thing, but also allows in some nuggets that otherwise might have been cut. For instance, it's nice to know Willie sympathizes with the Occupy Wa...more
Willie Nelson is quite a character and you get to see that in this book. He jumps around a lot with no transition from one chapter to the next but it's classic "I do what I want and if you don't like it, piss off" outlaw style. There is a mixture of nostalgia, family, poems/songs, jokes, current journal entries, and plenty of his musings and insights into the world. He is a big family man and his wife, kids, and sister all have little snippets on what it was like growing up with him and what he...more
this was absolutely horrible. imagine some dude reading extensive album liner notes, family references and throwing in some "thoughts of the day." and this is what you get.
one stretch of the book was just an advertisement for sirius xm radio, as he listed off his show, and all the shows that he liked on whatever xm radio is. it was real lame.
i think willy might have dementia or a bad editor, because he repeated the same thing over and over again, and some of his family repeated things that he h...more
one stretch of the book was just an advertisement for sirius xm radio, as he listed off his show, and all the shows that he liked on whatever xm radio is. it was real lame.
i think willy might have dementia or a bad editor, because he repeated the same thing over and over again, and some of his family repeated things that he h...more
Jan 01, 2013
Chuck
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Chuck by:
Michael Gray Calvert
I have been a "Willie" fan since the sixties and still love his music. Haven't missed a concert that was close enough to get to without having to fly. The best thing about this book, however, was the title. A good clue was given there with the choice of the word "musings" because that accurately describes this literary effort. It reminds me of the old "Mad" magazine cover where this unusual looking mini-man with big ears so elequently sums up life by saying "what me worry". Willie does give expe...more
Very first things very first: Don't make the mistake I made and open the book up and see the scribbled signature inside and think "Oh, awesome, I got a signed copy!" They aren't actually signed; the signatures are printed on. Maybe it's just that I'm a signed-book nerd, but I think that's a little shabby. Sadly, the style-over-substance motif carries over to the contents of the book itself. Lately there's been a spate of babbling, stream-of-consciousness books by celebrities whose fanbases will...more
Country music has always been my favorite. My favorite would have to be the outlaws. Since Willie Nelson is apart of that group I had to read it. The book was kinda sad at the starting because willies parents had died and he had to live with his grandma and grandpa on a cotton farm. An interesting part is how he was inspired to be a country singer. One day he was picking cotton and and a white Cadillac rolled up to the farm. That day he knew he wasn't going to be picking cotton for the rest he w...more
I love me some Willie Nelson, and this book had a few nuggets of Willie's wisdom about life, family and being on the road. What I didn't realize before reading it was that most of the book was written by family members and members of his band. Not that there was anything really wrong with that, but I was hoping for a little more Willie.
Also, the other thing that kind of bothered me was that Willie tends to repeat himself in the book. Now, i'm sure, with as much weed as Willie smokes, he does thi...more
Also, the other thing that kind of bothered me was that Willie tends to repeat himself in the book. Now, i'm sure, with as much weed as Willie smokes, he does thi...more
I read this because Erik's family members are all diehard Willie Nelson fans (one of his uncles has Willie's autograph tattooed on his arm and his grandpa has carried around a picture of him and Willie in his wallet for about 30 years). It is a quick and scattered read, jumping from journal entries to political ramblings to lyrics to words of wisdom to jokes (What do you call a guitar player without a girlfriend? Homeless.") - but somehow it works. It's both funny and poignant, and I ended up ha...more
If you're looking for a quick, surprisingly influential read, you'd do worse than picking up ole' Willie's latest. Despite what the title may lead you to believe, Willie spends very little time on the subject of marijuana beyond his belief that it should be legalized and it beat drinking himself into oblivion and plowing through two packs of cigarettes a day. Instead, Willie is a man primarily motivated by family, God, friendships, exercise and positive thinking. Not a bad way to be.
I have thoughts.
1) The word "Musings" in the title is really brilliant. This is not an autobiography, it's not a memoir, it's not even all written by Willie himself- there are several sections written by his wife, children, grandchildren, other musicians, etc. These are thoughts that are somewhat grouped together, sometimes rambling, sometimes hilarious, but very warm and joyful.
2) I got this as a gift from my amazing Mom, who didn't know that it was a signed copy- and not only is it signed in t...more
1) The word "Musings" in the title is really brilliant. This is not an autobiography, it's not a memoir, it's not even all written by Willie himself- there are several sections written by his wife, children, grandchildren, other musicians, etc. These are thoughts that are somewhat grouped together, sometimes rambling, sometimes hilarious, but very warm and joyful.
2) I got this as a gift from my amazing Mom, who didn't know that it was a signed copy- and not only is it signed in t...more
1 like · like · see review
Nov 29, 2012
Michael
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Michael by:
Richard Derus
The book was filled with song lyrics, jokes, advice, and other musings of Willie and his many family members. I am a fan of Willie Nelson and have played some of his tunes on stage myself. I share many of Willie's ideas, including the legalization of marijuana, bio-fuels, family farms, treating our planet and its people with respect....and all the rest of that hippie shit that long haired old men come to love after they have found their own peace and balance.....mgc
Good jokes but overall lacked focus. I realized it was "musings" but they could have been more connected to something. It seems more of a memory book to leave for family members. I am also fully aware that Willie Nelson would like to legalize pot- every 5th page had a rant. I liked the parts where other people wrote about their relationship or experience with Willie. He's had quite a few wives, played with some amazing people, and held many interesting jobs- hog farmer, radio DJ.
I love, love, love the way Willie plays a guitar and the way he tells a story. This book had some of the same stories I've heard over the years in other books, but there is a new angle in this telling. Perhaps it's Willie's advancing age that puts things into a different perspective, but I loved reading this. Loved it. Made me laugh, made me weep, made me shake my head a lot, and made me even more grateful I've been touched by his genius.
This was an impulse buy because I needed something light to read after slogging through something pretty dense. I don't know what I was expecting, but maybe something along the lines of Agassi's "Open," which is a great read. This book is definitely not in that class. I recommend taking the time you'd spend reading this and listening to the music instead. The music I can recommend without hesitation...
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Willie Hugh Nelson is an American singer-songwriter and actor. He is widely regarded as one of the most beloved and notorious country music singers. He reached his greatest fame during the so-called "outlaw country" movement of the 1970s, but remains iconic, especially in American popular culture. In recent years he has continued to tour, record, and perform, and this, combined with activities in...more
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Mar 01, 2013 02:38am