Willie Nelson – A Horse Called Music

About the song

Willie Nelson is nothing short of a living legend, a troubadour whose voice carries the weight of countless stories and miles traveled. In “A Horse Called Music”, Nelson once again proves that age has only enriched his ability to evoke emotion through song. Originally penned by Waylon Holyfield, the track first appeared on Nelson’s 1989 album, A Horse Called Music. While it didn’t make waves on the charts at the time, it has since become a cherished piece among his dedicated fans—those who understand that Nelson’s music is about far more than commercial success.

The song is a gentle, reflective ballad, carried along by the unmistakable tenderness of Nelson’s voice and his signature guitar work. It tells the story of a man whose best days seem long behind him, but who still carries the memories of simpler, more hopeful times. The titular “Horse Called Music” becomes a metaphor for those lost dreams—faded, but never forgotten. With his signature conversational delivery, Nelson breathes life into every line, reminding listeners of the fragile beauty that lingers in nostalgia.

What sets this track apart is its ability to feel both intimate and universal. Nelson’s voice is unhurried, each word carefully placed, almost as if he’s telling an old friend about someone he used to know. The arrangement itself is sparse and unpretentious—gentle strumming, the soft hum of background harmonies, and subtle, earthy instrumentation that never overpowers the storytelling. There’s a quiet dignity in the song’s simplicity, a reminder that sometimes the most powerful moments in music come not from force but from restraint.

As Nelson sings about “a horse called music,” one can’t help but reflect on his own storied career—decades of songs that have painted vivid portraits of love, loss, and the human condition. The track almost feels autobiographical in that sense, a tribute to the passage of time and the memories that linger long after the music has faded. It’s a song that doesn’t demand your attention but gently beckons it, inviting you to sit back, close your eyes, and let your own memories ride alongside his.

In a world where country music often leans toward the brash and bold, Willie Nelson remains a master of understatement. “A Horse Called Music” is a quiet masterpiece—one that doesn’t just play in your ears but settles into your soul, reminding you of the power of simplicity and the lasting impact of a well-told story.

Video

Lyrics

High on a mountain in western Montana
A silhouette moves cross a cinnamon sky
Ridin’ along on a horse he called Music
With a song on his lips, and a tear in his eye

And he dreamed of a time and a lady that loved him
And how he would sing her sweet lullabye
But we don’t ever ask him, and he never talks about her
I guess its better to just let it slide

And he sang oooh to the ladies
And oooh he makes ’em sigh
Now he rides away on a horse he called Music
With a pain in his heart and a tear in his eye

Now he rode the Music from Boston to Bozeman
For not too much money, and way too much ride
But those were the days when a horse he called Music
Could jump through the moon and sail across the sky

Now all that’s left is a time worn old cowboy
With nothing more than the sweet bye and bye
Trailin’ along is a horse with no rider
A horse he calls Memories that she used to ride

And he sang oooh to the ladies
And oooh he damn near laid down and died
Now he rides away on a horse he called Music
With a pain in his heart and a tear in his eyes

High on a mountain in western Montana
Two crosses cut through a cinnamon sky
Marking the place where a horse he called Music
Lays with a cowboy in the sweet bye and bye