About the song
There are few voices in American music as enduring or as beloved as **Willie Nelson**, and few songs that capture the bittersweet passage of time as poignantly as **Willie Nelson – Old Timer**. Released in 2017 on his album *God’s Problem Child*, this song finds Nelson reflecting with warmth, humor, and grace on what it means to grow older — a subject he knows intimately. At 84 years old at the time of recording, Nelson brings a depth of authenticity to **Old Timer** that cannot be imitated or manufactured. It’s a song that speaks gently to anyone who has lived long enough to see the world change around them, while still carrying the same heart inside.
Musically, **Willie Nelson – Old Timer** is spare and understated, built around a slow, shuffling rhythm and Nelson’s unmistakable guitar work on his battered Martin guitar, “Trigger.” His voice, weathered yet still remarkably expressive, delivers each line with the kind of knowing wink and touch of tenderness that have always set him apart. The production is intentionally minimal, allowing the emotional weight of the lyrics to sit front and center. It’s the kind of song that doesn’t beg for attention; it simply settles into your bones, the way an old friend’s conversation might on a quiet afternoon.
Lyrically, **Old Timer** is a meditation on memory, resilience, and acceptance. Nelson doesn’t shy away from the realities of aging — the slower pace, the fading strength — but he meets them with a kind of peaceful defiance. Lines like “You think you’re still a young bull rider / ‘Til you look in the mirror and see an old timer” capture that universal, often startling feeling of recognizing the passage of time only when we see it reflected back at us. Yet rather than mourn what’s lost, Nelson celebrates the enduring spirit that remains.
In **Willie Nelson – Old Timer**, listeners find not just a song, but a companion. It’s a reminder that while youth may fade, the essence of who we are — the dreams, the stubbornness, the laughter — endures. It’s a testament to Nelson’s artistry that he can sing about aging without bitterness, offering instead a kind of gentle wisdom that feels both comforting and deeply real.
Video
Lyrics
You had your run
And it’s been a good one
Seems like the world is passing you by
Oh Father Time
He just keeps on ticking
Still got a lot of life and a song to sing
You fell in love
Back in the day
Can’t forget her face
Can’t remember her name
She was a beauty
A shining star
Just when you weren’t looking she broke your heart
You been down every highway
Burned your share of bridges
You found forgiveness
You think that you’re still a young bull rider
Til you look in the mirror and see an old timer
One by one
Your friends have crossed over
You pray for mercy and a few more days
Still got dreams inside your head
Someday it’s a struggle just to get out of bed
You been down every highway
Burned your share of bridges
You found forgiveness
You think that you’re still a young bull rider
Til you look in the mirror and see an old timer
An old timer
