About the song
Few artists embody the spirit of American country music quite like **Willie Nelson**, and his reflective ballad **Nothing I Can Do About It Now** is a fine example of the wisdom and gentle resignation that have become trademarks of his storied career. Released in 1989, this track served as the lead single from his album *A Horse Called Music*, and quickly climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. But beyond its chart success, the song resonates because of the deep truths it quietly delivers—truths about life, regret, and acceptance.
In **Nothing I Can Do About It Now**, Nelson doesn’t offer grand declarations or overblown emotion. Instead, he speaks plainly, almost like an old friend sharing hard-earned insight over a quiet conversation. The central theme—coming to terms with the past and choosing not to dwell on regrets—is delivered with the kind of calm certainty that can only come from someone who’s lived a long life full of ups, downs, and everything in between. “I’ve done all that I can do,” he sings, “and now I’m paying for it,” acknowledging past mistakes with neither self-pity nor denial. But then, he offers a gentle refrain: “I could cry for the time I’ve wasted / But that’s a waste of time and tears.”
There’s something deeply comforting in the way **Willie Nelson** delivers this message. His unmistakable voice—weathered, intimate, and true—wraps around the lyrics like an old blanket. The phrasing is conversational, almost lazy, but never careless. Each word lands softly, making the message feel personal and deeply lived-in. The instrumentation, too, is modest and unfussy, with acoustic guitar, steel guitar, and a subtle rhythm section providing a warm backdrop that never distracts from the song’s emotional core.
**Willie Nelson – Nothing I Can Do About It Now** stands as a poignant reminder that aging brings not only aches and memories but also a kind of freedom—the freedom to let go of what can’t be changed. For older listeners especially, the song may feel like an affirmation: that peace doesn’t come from fixing every mistake, but from learning to carry them lightly.
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Lyrics
I’ve got a long list of real good reasons
For all the things I’ve done
I’ve got a picture in the back of my mind
Of what I’ve lost and what I’ve won
I’ve survived every situation
Knowing when to freeze and when to run
And regret is just a memory written on my brow
And there’s nothing I can do about it now
I’ve got a wild and a restless spirit
I held my price through every deal
I’ve seen the fire of a woman scorned
Turn her heart of gold to steel
I’ve got the song of the voice inside me
Set to the rhythm of the wheel
And I’ve been dreaming like a child
Since the cradle broke the bow
And there’s nothing I can do about it now
Running through the changes
Going through the stages
Coming round the corners in my life
Leaving doubt to fate
Staying out too late
Waiting for the moon to say goodnight
And I could cry for the time I’ve wasted
But that’s a waste of time and tears
And I know just what I’d change
If went back in time somehow
But there’s nothing I can do about it now
Running through the changes
Going through the stages
Coming round the corners in my life
Leaving doubt to fate
Staying out too late
Waiting for the moon to say goodnight
And I could cry for the time I’ve wasted
But that’s a waste of time and tears
And I know just what I’d change
If went back in time somehow
But there’s nothing I can do about it now
I’m forgiving everything that forgiveness will allow
And there’s nothing I can do about it now
