About the song
There’s something timeless about a classic song finding new life in the hands of a great interpreter. That’s exactly what happened when Willie Nelson took on “Blue Skies”, a tune that had already lived many lives before it ever landed in the laid-back hands of this country music legend. Originally penned by Irving Berlin in 1926, “Blue Skies” was introduced as a cheerful afterthought in a now-forgotten musical. Yet, like many Berlin compositions, its effortless optimism and catchy melody gave it staying power. The song’s sunny disposition and lilting charm made it a favorite of swing bands in the 1930s and ’40s, with memorable versions by Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra, among others.
But Willie Nelson’s rendition, released in 1978 as part of his landmark Stardust album, offered something refreshingly different. At a time when country music was still defining its place in the American mainstream, Stardust was a bold move: a collection of pop standards from the Great American Songbook, all reimagined through Nelson’s distinctively unhurried, conversational style. It was a heartfelt nod to the songs he grew up loving, and “Blue Skies” stood out as one of the most enduring tracks.
Nelson doesn’t sing “Blue Skies” so much as breathe it—his phrasing easy and relaxed, the melody gently massaged rather than strictly followed. The result is a performance that feels both deeply familiar and utterly new. Gone is the uptempo swing of earlier versions, replaced with a mellow, jazzy arrangement highlighted by Willie’s signature guitar, Trigger, and a band that knows exactly when to lay back and when to lean in.
What makes this version so compelling is Nelson’s ability to convey joy without forcing it. “Blue Skies” in his hands isn’t a rousing anthem of optimism—it’s a quiet, knowing smile at the sky after a storm has passed. It’s a song that understands life’s ups and downs but chooses to focus on the clear horizon ahead.
For longtime fans and newcomers alike, Willie Nelson’s “Blue Skies” is a perfect example of how a great song can be reborn, made new again by an artist with heart, soul, and the wisdom of experience.
Video
Lyrics
Blue skies smilin’ at me
Nothin’ but blue skies do I see
Blue birds singin’ a song
Nothin’ but blue skies from now on
I never saw the sun shinin’ so bright,
never saw things goin’ so right
Noticing the days hurrying by,
when you’re in love, my how they fly by
Blue days, all of them gone
Nothin’ but blue skies from now on
Blue skies smilin’ at me
Nothin’ but blue skies do I see
Blue days, all of them gone
Nothin’ but blue skies from now on
Blue skies smilin’ at me
Nothin’ but blue skies do I see
Blue days, all of them gone
Nothin’ but blue skies from now on
Blue skies smilin’ at me
Nothin’ but blue skies do I see
Blue days, all of them gone
Nothin’ but blue skies from now on
