Saturday, May 6, 2023

Willie Nelson: Top 100 Songs

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Willie Nelson

Top 100 Songs

Country singer/songwriter Willie Nelson was born on 4/29/1933 in Abbott, TX. He wrote hits for others before becoming a successful singer in his own right. He moved to Nashville in 1960 and moved back to Texas in 1970. He pioneered the “outlaw” country movement. He appeared in several movies including The Electric Horseman (1979), Honeysuckle Rose (1980), and Barbarosa (1982).

Dave’s Music Database initially posted its ranking of the top 10 Willie Nelson songs on its Facebook page in response to a July 12, 2010, Paste magazine list of The 10 Best Willie Nelson Songs. It was updated and expanded to a top 80 list here in honor of Nelson’s 80th birthday (April 30, 2013). In 2023, it was expanded again – this time to a top 100 list – in honor of Nelson’s 90th birthday and the announcement that he would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

This list includes songs written by Nelson but performed by others (noted in parentheses) and songs Nelson covered which have DMDB higher-ranked versions by other artists (*).

For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry.

Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards:

Top 100 Songs

Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to charts.)

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Crazy (recorded by Patsy Cline, written by Willie Nelson; 1961)
2. Always on My Mind (1982) #1 CW

DMDB Top 2%:

3. On the Road Again (1980) #1 CW

DMDB Top 5%:

4. Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys (with Waylon Jennings, 1978) #1 CW
5. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (1975) #1 CW
6. Good Hearted Woman (live with Waylon Jennings, 1975) #1 CW
7. Georgia on My Mind (1978) * #1 CW
8. To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before (with Julio Iglesias, 1984) #1 CW
9. Pretty Paper (written by Willie Nelson, performed by Roy Orbison, 1963)
10. Hello Walls (recorded by Faron Young, written by Willie Nelson; 1961) #1 CW
11. Pancho and Lefty (with Merle Haggard, 1983) *
12. Yesterday (2014) *

DMDB Top 10%:

13. The Highwayman (with Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, & Kris Kristofferson, 1985) #1 CW
14. Blue Skies (1978) #1 CW *
15. All of Me (1978) *
16. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1980) #1 CW

DMDB Top 20%:

17. City of New Orleans (1984) * #1 CW
18. Just Breathe (2012) *
19. Heartbreak Hotel (with Leon Russell, 1979) * #1 CW
20. September Song (1978) *

21. America the Beautiful (2001) *
22. Mona Lisa (1981) *
23. Baby It’s Cold Outside (with Norah Jones, 2009) *
24. Fire and Rain (1975) *
25. Funny How Time Slips Away (written by Nelson, performed by Al Green with Lyle Lovett, 1994)
26. Help Me Make It Through the Night (1979) *
27. Without a Song (1983) *
28. Beer for My Horses (with Toby Keith, 2002) #1 CW

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

29. Live Forever (with Lucinda Williams, 2022)
30. Whiskey River (live, 1978)

31. It Was a Very Good Year (with Ray Charles, 2004) *
32. Let It Be Me (1982)
33. If I Were a Carpenter (with Sheryl Crow, 2007) *
34. What a Wonderful World (1988) *
35. Night Life (written by Willie Nelson, recorded by Rusty Draper, 1963)
36. (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay (with Waylon Jennings, 1982) *
37. If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time (1976) * #1 CW
38. Pretty Paper (1963)
39. Crazy (1962)
40. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter (1981) *

41. Remember Me (1975)
42. Just to Satisfy You (with Waylon Jennings, 1982) #1 CW
43. Night Life (1965)
44. Forgiving You Was Easy (1985) #1 CW
45. Funny How Time Slips Away (1962)
46. That Lucky Old Sun (with Kenny Chesney, 2008) *
47. Funny How Time Slips Away (written by Nelson, recorded by Jimmy Elledge, 1961)
48. Seven Spanish Angels (with Ray Charles, 1984) #1 CW
49. Night Life (written by Nelson, recorded by Ray Price, 1963)
50. Everything’s Beautiful in Its Own Way (with Dolly Parton, 1982)

51. Take It to the Limit (with Waylon Jennings, 1983) *
52. Pretty Paper (with Kenny Chesney, 2003)
53. Angels Flying Too Close to the Sun (1981) #1 CW
54. Twilight Time (1988) *
55. Hello Walls (1962)
56. Living in the Promiseland (1986) #1 CW
57. Funny How Time Slips Away (Danny Davis & the Nashville Brass with Willie Nelson, 1980)
58. Nothing I Can Do About It (1989) #1 CW
59. Uncloudy Day (1976)
60. Bloody Mary Morning (1974)

61. Faded Love (with Ray Price, 1980) *
62. Me and Paul (1972, re-recorded in 1985)
63. Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning (1982)
64. Half a Man (1963)
65. The Party’s Over (1967)
66. Good Times (1968)
67. Crazy Arms (1970) *
68. Heart of Gold (1986) *
69. On the Street Where You Live (2009) *
70. Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer) (1973)

71. Yesterday’s Wine (1971)
72. Touch Me (1962)
73. Willingly (with Shirley Collie, 1962)
74. Funny How Time Slips Away (written by Nelson, recorded by Billy Walker, 1961)
75. Reasons to Quit (with Merle Haggard, 1983)
76. If You Can Touch Her at All (with Waylon Jennings, 1978)
77. I’d Have to Be Crazy (1976)
78. Shotgun Willie (1973)
79. Midnight Rider (1979) *
80. Sweet Memories (1979)

81. She’s Not for You (1965)
82. The Last Letter (1963)
83. Why Do I Have to Choose (1983)
84. Little Old Fashioned Karma (1983)
85. You Took My Happy Away (1964)
86. If I Could Only Fly (with Merle Haggard, 1987)
87. I Love You a Thousand Ways (1977)
88. Something to Brag About (with Mary Kay Place, 1977)
89. Wabash Cannonball (with Hank Wilson, 1984) *
90. I Still Can’t Believe You’re Gone (1974)

91. You Ought to Hear Me Cry (1977)
92. I’m a Memory (1971)
93. One in a Row (1966)
94. Bring Me Sunshine (1968)
95. I Hope So (1969)
96. Blackjack County Chain (1967)
97. Graceland (with Paul Simon, 1993) *
98. Little Things (1968)
99. Once More with Feeling (1970)
100. I Just Can’t Let You Say Goodbye (1965)

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 4/30/2013; updated 5/6/2023.

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