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Willie Nelson — Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
Album: The Red Headed Stranger
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2657









Released: 1975
Length: 2:16
Plays (last 30 days): 4
In the twilight glow i see her
Blue eyes crying in the rain
When we kissed goodbye and parted
I knew we'd never meet again

Love is like a dying ember
And only memories remain
And through the ages i'll remember
Blue eyes crying in the rain.

Someday when we meet up yonder
We'll stroll hand in hand again
In the land that knows no parting
For blue eyes crying in the rain.
Comments (218)add comment
 penn07 wrote:

Absolute garbage  cant sing.



I wish your parents weren't so hard on you. My sympathies. 
 cc_rider wrote:

I always thought Willie wrote it, because he just 'owns' it. But it was written by Fred Rose for Roy Acuff. Regardless, this is perfect confluence of the writer's and performer's gifts. This is what 10s are for.
c.



Interesting, me too. Filed away, thanks!


 Steely_D wrote:

A beautiful song from my favorite album about a cuckold who goes on a mass murdering rampage.



Don't understand your post entirely, sorry, but "mass murder rampage", with Kerouac backpacked?
 suebee3 wrote:

Not a giant fan of the Willie man, but have to say this particular tune is an exception.



What's brilliant is that it's part of a complex concept album.
The one preceding this is similar. Check out "Phases and Stages" - https://www.cambridge.org/core...
A beautiful song from my favorite album about a cuckold who goes on a mass murdering rampage.
I bloody love this guy. What a life and so well lived, right or wrong at times.. But that's all of us yeah?
My fave of his? "Valentine" on "Across the Borderline"
Bless you Willie, 90 years and many more to come.
This, and Phases and Stages, are awesome records. Worth seeking out.
 cc_rider wrote:

I always thought Willie wrote it, because he just 'owns' it. But it was written by Fred Rose for Roy Acuff. Regardless, this is perfect confluence of the writer's and performer's gifts. This is what 10s are for.
c.


Name me a song that everybody knows
And I'll bet you it belongs to Acuff-Rose
Children in the playground, the folks in the home
Anybody anywhere who's ever been alone

- Uncle Tupelo, 1993
Non American here. This is awesome. Just what my soul needed. 
 cshotton wrote:


If by "musical instrument" you mean "cat in heat howling in a dumpster", then yeah, musical, indeed. Dude is so tone deaf it hurts. Add his plinking/twanging guitar. I truly don't get why people like his music..



You suck.
9 -> 10

Can't believe I rated it a mere 9?!?
Need this LP! Started his career over with this and pretty much started the Outlaw Country movement.
bloodshot blue eyes  :  )
There is something comforting in hearing Willie sing (for me anyway).

Willie Nelson is one of the greatest.  Check out the song "Valentine"  from the album "Across The Borders"  It is so, so beautiful..  And, my wife has her Birthday on Valentine's Day which makes it kind of extra special..
Bless you Willie.
There's a NY Times magazine cover story on Willie this Sunday as he approaches 90 and still on the road! Legend!
ya know...you all can play more from this album

it may be his best
Absolute garbage  cant sing.
I'd like to dedicate this song to my first deep love, Siri. I hope you've had a wonderful life back in your homeland of Norway...
 cshotton wrote:


If by "musical instrument" you mean "cat in heat howling in a dumpster", then yeah, musical, indeed. Dude is so tone deaf it hurts. Add his plinking/twanging guitar. I truly don't get why people like his music..


This is a beautiful little song.  It is no more complicated than that.  
 Spiderwoman wrote:

His voice is a musical instrument.



If by "musical instrument" you mean "cat in heat howling in a dumpster", then yeah, musical, indeed. Dude is so tone deaf it hurts. Add his plinking/twanging guitar. I truly don't get why people like his music..
His voice is a musical instrument.
Perfection
This song/album takes me back to the drive home after a long day hiking and exploring Hueco Tanks in west TX as a child...miss you so much Pops
Wow. For an old stoner this guy sure makes some slooooow country to fall asleep to.
 FlamingLotus wrote:
macadavy wrote: SENTIMENTAL?!? He's singing about missing his wife, whom he just shot to death. By the way, they cast Morgan Fairchild as his wife in the movie because they needed a character that Willie could kill in cold blood and still come out looking like a good guy!


I wish I understood this, but the only thing I know about Morgan Fairchild is that she was the wife of Jon Lovitz's Pathological Liars Anonymous Association character... :P
Mirrorball - Elbow into Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain was a lovely seque.


idiot_wind wrote:He did some great shows when touring with Bob Dylan in the summers at minor league ball parks.

Hot and sweaty, crazy crowds.




Norwood9 wrote:
Went to one in my town and Willie was great, Bob not so much, couldn't understand a word he sang.


 
Probably the series my husband and I saw. The Hot Club of Cowtown opened for Willie who opened for Bob. Your right in that Willie, and the Hot Club, rocked and Bob was...welll....Bob. He mumbled and looked across the stage, but his band was HOT! Unfortunately, I didn't see Bob's whole set as hubby was like, "we should go before the crowd leaves" or something. Yeah...first set....alas the petulant me said "fine...." 
An American treasure. 
 lizardking wrote:
hmmmm....had a bit of a "how the HELL did BillG know" moment there.  A little while ago I looked up the Who song "Behind Blue Eyes" to see what the rating was (related to a conversation with a friend recently) and I saw this Willie song below it....well now it's playing and I'm happy to say I have it rated a 9 ;-) 
Surprised by Song Selection in Seattle

LONG LIVE RP! 

 

Serendipitously surprised by Allusive alliteration!  
I always thought Willie wrote it, because he just 'owns' it. But it was written by Fred Rose for Roy Acuff. Regardless, this is perfect confluence of the writer's and performer's gifts. This is what 10s are for.
c.
Exquisite.  Thanks RP.  10...
Such phrasing. 😀


The reason God made the PSD control .... activating in 3..2.. 1
 macadavy wrote:
The sound of his cat-gut string amplified acoustic guitar is unique.  Love it!
 
And the crackles and pops from the Ol' Victrola...
The sound of his cat-gut string amplified acoustic guitar is unique.  Love it!
 SpinyNorma wrote:
Whenever I hear dear ol' Willie, I remember the following short ditty I heard on a BBC Radio 4 comedy show many moons ago:

(To be sung to the tune of the first line of 'Oh! Susannah')

"Oh... I.... call mah willy Nelson, 'cos he's only got one eye".

You're welcome 
 
The album's called Red Headed Stranger for the same reason Jackson Brown 
wanted to "introduce you to my red headed friend"... ;-)

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.     

Whenever I hear dear ol' Willie, I remember the following short ditty I heard on a BBC Radio 4 comedy show many moons ago:

(To be sung to the tune of the first line of 'Oh! Susannah')

"Oh... I.... call mah willy Nelson, 'cos he's only got one eye".

You're welcome 
a great musician  and a great humanitarian , true American legend
Now I want to hear ol' Waylon doing Luckenbach Texas' (or better yet, 'Nobody Knows I'm Elvis'!)
One of the simplest, most beautiful songs ever recorded.
Smoooth....
Yes...love Willie.
 Went to one in my town and Willie was great, Bob not so much, couldn't understand a word he sang. idiot_wind wrote:
He did some great shows when touring with Bob Dylan in the summers at minor league ball parks. 

Hot and sweaty, crazy crowds.  

 

Just pure and simple, one of the greatest, thank you . 
One of the most sublime songs of all time - the more so for being so simple. Thanks, Willie.

hmmmm....had a bit of a "how the HELL did BillG know" moment there.  A little while ago I looked up the Who song "Behind Blue Eyes" to see what the rating was (related to a conversation with a friend recently) and I saw this Willie song below it....well now it's playing and I'm happy to say I have it rated a 9 ;-) 
Surprised by Song Selection in Seattle

LONG LIVE RP! 

He did some great shows when touring with Bob Dylan in the summers at minor league ball parks. 

Hot and sweaty, crazy crowds.  
Don't listen to much country, but Willie always gets my attention!  I love his tasteful guitar playin'...
 chedak wrote:
Every time I hear this song, it makes me think of when Willie walked into a small blues bar I was at while living in Tucson in the 1980s. He just walked in off the street and my friend and I had to take a double take to be sure it was who we thought it was. We walked up and told him that we were fans of his music and he thanked us.  

Then, he preceded to join the local blues band that was playing on the small stage.  Of course, one of the songs he played was "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," and I was amazed by our luck to be in this small bar at the right time. 

In the small crowd around the stage, there was a guy that I overheard telling his friend, "Check out all these hot girls around us!"  I was like, 'Excuse me, but that is "the" Willie Nelson playing up there!'

 
get out!
was it Chicago Bar on Speedway?
I hereby nominate this for inclusion in the Great American Songbook, Vol II. 
 skindy wrote:
This song is just perfection. {#Good-vibes} I love Willie Nelson. And I despise 99% of country music.

 
My thoughts exactly.
 skindy wrote:
This song is just perfection. {#Good-vibes} I love Willie Nelson. And I despise 99% of country music.

 
I mirror your comments esp. the reference to all things twangy (although I adore much acoustic) but I agree this is simply perfection.
Sing it, Willie!

:-)  :-) 
ooo  wat een mooi nummer
krijg hier kippevel moment van

brilliant
What a charming, relaxing song...
This song is just perfection. {#Good-vibes} I love Willie Nelson. And I despise 99% of country music.
An American classic!
 
 Skydog wrote:
play the whole album, it's not much more than 30 minutes

 
+1 
bless your heart Bill
rating 9+ for me.  easy.  american legend.
 
Every time I hear this song, it makes me think of when Willie walked into a small blues bar I was at while living in Tucson in the 1980s. He just walked in off the street and my friend and I had to take a double take to be sure it was who we thought it was. We walked up and told him that we were fans of his music and he thanked us.  

Then, he preceded to join the local blues band that was playing on the small stage.  Of course, one of the songs he played was "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," and I was amazed by our luck to be in this small bar at the right time. 

In the small crowd around the stage, there was a guy that I overheard telling his friend, "Check out all these hot girls around us!"  I was like, 'Excuse me, but that is "the" Willie Nelson playing up there!'
play the whole album, it's not much more than 30 minutes
 nagsheadlocal wrote:

You and me both, brother. I used to sing this song while washing dishes at the cafe were I worked part-time to pay tuition.

Twenty years old, hardly a dime to my name, but the world was filled with music and possibilities. 

 
CHEERS NAGS!  (yuk, dishwashing is rough stuff and this is one spirit enlightening tune for diversion : )
Seeing Willie & Merle on their last show of their tour next month.  Some serious two-steppin' will be going on for sure.

{#Cowboy} 
 j1sey wrote:
spent many hours listening to this album and playing cards in college.

 
You and me both, brother. I used to sing this song while washing dishes at the cafe were I worked part-time to pay tuition.

Twenty years old, hardly a dime to my name, but the world was filled with music and possibilities. 
Really?  After the Shins.  Wow, talk about a harsh!
{#Cowboy}
Mavis Staples to Willie Nelson. Back-to-back 10s for me. 
spent many hours listening to this album and playing cards in college.
Not his best but almost his best....Freakin love me some Willie!!!! Smokin' one for you Bro!
 
My boss just came in and saw the screen with Willie in the bath.  I think my reputation may be tarnished for ever.
I just love him.....{#Heartkiss}
Good song, but liable to put me to sleep after lunch...
as a 15 yr old, after school, I worked at the Bourbon Barrel fixing all the broken chairs from that weekend's brawls, and this sweet song would play on the juke box. Sitting in the back room with Elmer's and duct-tape, being introduced to Waylon and Willie, and Dolly Parton (Jolene!), Elvis, and a whole slew of 70's noise for the over 50's crowd … and still this simple song made a lasting impression
 helenkosings wrote:
Loved this song almost my whole life.  Playing right after Mavis Staples' "One True Vine" : DELICIOUS!

 
Yes.  Great segue.
 Imkirok wrote:
A Wet Willy:



Classic song, for sure.
Got to love Wille for both honorably dealing with his IRS issues while all along the way being unapologetic in his love for The Herb.


The Electric Horseman film poster.jpg
 

King Willie!
This song is a beauty, got me teary-eyed when I first heard it like 40 effin' years ago, and I still love it
He's a blast in this cool movie too!   Oh and thanks for the great wet willie Imkirok!!!


 ghoffman wrote:

Sorry, Dad.  I have grown up, and I still don't care for (most) country music.

 
if you mistake the over produced recycled 80s pop that Nashville has decied on, can't blame you. that ain't " COUNTRY "
A Wet Willy:


 Johnny-smooth wrote:

The whole album is a masterpiece - a true 10 throughout

 
Absolutely true.  It's difficult to hear just one song from this album, the whole is so much larger than the sum of the parts.  It is the musical version of an epic.
Loved this song almost my whole life.  Playing right after Mavis Staples' "One True Vine" : DELICIOUS!
I don't generally like country music. 
But for me, this song is perfection. Simple, real, well played - an exemplar of what it is. 
Very difficult not to like.
great tune from an awesome album from an extraordinary person!
Yuh gotta love Willie
 oldfart48 wrote:
mo' texass plea's....{#Dance} ( only the music please )

 
Kris Kristofferson, Mr. Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark, Gary Clark Jr. (no relation), Ray Wylie Hubbard, James McMurtry, Susan Gibson...
One of those songs that just makes you stop doing whatever you're doing......

 
Please remember that there are only two kinds of music: good and bad.

 
ghoffman wrote:

Sorry, Dad.  I have grown up, and I still don't care for (most) country music.

 


Not a giant fan of the Willie man, but have to say this particular tune is an exception.
Wait... did I file my taxes for last year?
not a big fan of country music... but I find if very hard not to like this song... but then again.. Willie Nelson is not your average country-music singer!
 ccjemmett wrote:
Some simple songs are truly inspired  
 
 





And this is one of em.........
Some simple songs are truly inspired  
 
 Dahlia_Gumbo wrote:

What a voice. What a beautiful song.




 
The whole album is a masterpiece - a true 10 throughout
Happy Birthday Big Guy!!

What a voice. What a beautiful song.



His voice is a musical instrument
All right . . . downright refreshing to hear the Willie-meister . . . esp. after putting up with a Didgeridoo song a few back . . . 
 d-don wrote:
Simply one of the classics, but only an 8 rating? I would hate to live in the world those 20 people who rated this a 1 do.
 
We live in the same world as the soulless drudges who espoused these feelings. But we don't have to share the hollow existence that a person who rates Air a 10 and this song a 1. Selah. {#Meditate}
Legend has it Willie smoked a joint on the roof of the Whitehouse during the Carter administration.  I like to think it true.  Wonder if secret service had a pull?
Simply one of the classics, but only an 8 rating? I would hate to live in the world those 20 people who rated this a 1 do.
Its one of those songs that gives me chills every time I hear it.
Willie, what a legend. It's probably wrong to have a crush on an octogenarian at my age but I can't help it. Check out his Wikipedia entry, it's hilarious ;-0  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Nelson
I'm no country music fan but wow! this song is amazing.
 Lrobby99 wrote:
The criminal charges against Willie are proof we live in a police state, owned by corporations.
 
The sheriff banished the charges, providing Mr. Nelson sung a song. Which he did, and they were. So everyone went away happy.   {#Hug}
 chedak wrote:
Awesome song!  Reminds of a time (1980's) when I was living in Tucson, Az and at a local blues bar when in walks this guy that was a deadringer for Willie Nelson.  My friend says to me "Willie wears running shoes just like that."  We walked up to him and realized that it was in fact the real Willie.  We shook hands and told him we really appreciated his music, and he quietly said thank you. Found out he was in town filming the TV movie "Stagecoach." 

The best part is joined the local band on stage and played this very song...right place at the right time I guess.
 
Awesome story!  Wish I could have seen that.

Love this beautiful song.  Makes me a little sad for an era of country music that is long gone.
 Tippster wrote:
Are you folks actually lumping in Willie with "Main Stream Country Music?"
 
Not me.  I don't consider Willie part of "Main Stream Country Music."
Genius
My step-dad had a very eclectic music collection and gave me free run as a teen.  He introduced me to Willie and I have enjoyed his music since.  This track reminds me of the 'no TV' Sunday policy at home - only music!
Awesome song!  Reminds of a time (1980's) when I was living in Tucson, Az and at a local blues bar when in walks this guy that was a deadringer for Willie Nelson.  My friend says to me "Willie wears running shoes just like that."  We walked up to him and realized that it was in fact the real Willie.  We shook hands and told him we really appreciated his music, and he quietly said thank you. Found out he was in town filming the TV movie "Stagecoach." 

The best part is joined the local band on stage and played this very song...right place at the right time I guess.
Are you folks actually lumping in Willie with "Main Stream Country Music?"
 me too - but for some reason, had to see who this was

ghoffman wrote:

Sorry, Dad.  I have grown up, and I still don't care for (most) country music.
 


almost as good as  " Angel flying to close to the ground "
I remember California and 1975 so well...
What a beautiful song!
 Byronape wrote:
 I still loathe mainstream country music (actually, I loathe pretty much all mainstream music for that matter) and can't get over a certain contempt and prejudice against people that love that music.  It's a character flaw, I know, but it doesn't make it any harder for me to look at myself in the mirror in the morning.  {#Wink}
 

Lighten up yo'self...
Many victims are born into their race, religion or other source of prejudice.
You're talking about educated folk who have the sense and sensibilities to change their situation yet choose not to. They've made their redneck bed...let them lay in it. And before y'all start hatin'...please note I was born & raised in Texas and know a few things about rednecks. But at least Liberty Hall is a long way from Nashiville.
 Cowboyslikeus wrote:
When you grow up...You will like country music (Dad)
 
Sorry, Dad.  I have grown up, and I still don't care for (most) country music.
 johnjconn wrote:
This song was written for when your house burns down.
Not when you have to clean it
 
A very true statement.  

This is one of the few pure "country" songs I like.  I grew up having country music forced down my throat by about 80% of my age group and basically the entire population of the region.  And not good country like Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, or a few other greats.  Nope, I got crap by "No Show" Jones, Garth Brooks, and Hank Williams, Jr.  It made me hate nearly everything labeled as country.

It's only been in the last few years, nearly 10 years removed from where I grew up, that I learned to appreciate some of the truly great country and bluegrass artists.  I still loathe mainstream country music (actually, I loathe pretty much all mainstream music for that matter) and can't get over a certain contempt and prejudice against people that love that music.  It's a character flaw, I know, but it doesn't make it any harder for me to look at myself in the mirror in the morning.  {#Wink}
 Cowboyslikeus wrote:
When you grow up...You will like country music (Dad)
 
Your Dad was right.  I didn't appreciate it until a few years ago, and I'm in my 50s.  "New Country" doesn't do it for me so much....but "Classic Country", wow.

I can now listen to Willie, Waylon, Johnny, Merle, Tammy, Loretta and Dolly all day long...it is, as i said in a previous post, pure music.  Unpretentious.