ENERGY FOLLOWS THOUGHT The Stories Behind My Songs

As he narrates Willie Nelson's thoughts on 160 or so of his songs, listeners could forget they're listening to actor Ethan Hawke. With a gruff voice and a touch of a Texas twang, Hawke recounts the story of the poker game that inspired "Good Hearted Woman" and the sudden debut of "Wake Me When It's Over." Nelson's lyrics are narrated by Hawke, rather than sung, but listeners will still hear a bluesy vibe in "Yesterday's Wine." It might take one or two songs narrated in Hawke's voice for listeners to get into the rhythm of Nelson's audiobook, in which each song's lyrics are followed by the singer-songwriter's thoughts about the words. But even casual fans will appreciate the anecdotes Nelson shares about his songs and his life. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2024]