About the song
Few voices in country music carry the weight of history quite like **Willie Nelson**’s. By the time he recorded his 1997 version of **”Funny How Time Slips Away,”** the song had already become a classic—one he originally wrote in the early 1960s. First recorded by Billy Walker in 1961, the song went on to be covered by artists across genres, from Elvis Presley to Al Green. But there’s something undeniably special about hearing it from Nelson himself, a man whose voice feels like a conversation with an old friend, filled with warmth, wisdom, and just a touch of regret.
By 1997, **Willie Nelson** was already a legend, with a career spanning decades. He had long embraced a sound that blended traditional country with jazz, blues, and folk influences. When he revisited **”Funny How Time Slips Away,”** it wasn’t just another rendition—it was a reflection on the passage of time by a man who had lived through it all. His voice, now weathered but still deeply expressive, carried the song’s themes of nostalgia and lost love with an authenticity that only comes with age.
The song itself is a masterpiece of storytelling. It’s deceptively simple—a conversation between two former lovers who have run into each other after years apart. But beneath the casual small talk lies a world of unspoken emotions. There’s pride, there’s sadness, and there’s that bittersweet realization that life has moved on in unexpected ways. **Willie Nelson** delivers these lines with a knowing ease, letting every pause and sigh speak volumes.
In 1997, Nelson recorded **”Funny How Time Slips Away”** as part of various projects, often bringing in elements of jazz and swing, but always staying true to the song’s country roots. It’s the kind of song that grows more profound with time—just like the artist himself. Whether you’re hearing it for the first time or the hundredth, this version remains a poignant reminder of how quickly life moves, and how music, in its own way, helps us hold onto the past.
Video
Lyrics
Well, hello there
My, it’s been a long, long time
How am I doing?
Oh, I guess that I’m doing fine
It’s been so long now
And it seems now that it was only yesterday
Gee, ain’t it funny how time slips away?
How’s your new love?
I hope that he’s doing fine?
I heard you told him
That you’d love him ’til the end of time
Now that’s the same thing that you told me
It seems like just the other day
Gee, ain’t it funny how time slips away?
I gotta go now
I guess I’ll see you around
I don’t know when though
Never know when I’ll be back in town
But remember, what I tell you
That in time you’re gonna pay
And it’s surprising, how time slips away
