About the song
There’s a unique charm in songs that don’t take themselves too seriously—songs that wear a grin and invite you to chuckle along. That’s exactly what you’ll get with “It’s Hard to Be Humble,” a tongue-in-cheek classic reimagined by none other than Willie Nelson, a man whose weathered voice and sly wit make him the perfect storyteller for a tune like this.
Originally penned and recorded by Mac Davis in 1980, “It’s Hard to Be Humble” quickly became a novelty hit, thanks to its catchy chorus and self-deprecating humor. It’s the kind of song that leans all the way into irony, poking fun at the idea of celebrity ego with lines like, “To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man.” Davis’s version captured the spirit of the era with a wink and a grin, but when Willie Nelson got his hands on it, the song took on an entirely new flavor—one that’s both classic Willie and irresistibly funny.
Willie Nelson, with his well-worn guitar and unmistakable phrasing, brings a whole new layer of warmth and humor to the track. At this stage in his career, Nelson isn’t chasing trends—he’s having fun, and that joy is infectious. His version, recorded later in life, feels like a man with nothing to prove sharing a laugh with the audience. You can hear it in his voice: the twinkle, the shrug, the embrace of life’s absurdities.
There’s something comforting about hearing a living legend not take himself too seriously. Nelson’s version of “It’s Hard to Be Humble” is more than just a novelty—it’s a playful celebration of humility, vanity, and the contradictions that come with being human. The delivery is casual, almost like he’s telling the joke over a glass of whiskey at a back porch gathering, and that’s precisely what makes it so endearing.
In a world that often demands polished perfection and self-importance, this song is a breath of fresh air—a reminder that laughing at yourself might just be the most admirable trait of all. And in Willie Nelson’s hands, that message comes across with both humor and a surprising amount of heart
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Lyrics
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
When you’re perfect in every way
I can’t wait to look in the mirror
‘Cause I get better lookin’ each day
To know me is to love me
I must be a hell of a man
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
But I’m doing the best that I can
I used to have me a girlfriend
But I guess that she couldn’t compete
With all of them love-starved women
Who keep clamoring around at my feet
Well, I could probably could find me another
But I guess they’re all in awe of me (oh, man)
Who cares? I’ll never get lonesome
‘Cause I treasure my own company
Lord, it’s hard to be humble
When you’re perfect in every way
I can’t wait to look in the mirror
‘Cause I get better lookin’ each day
To know me is to love me
I must be one hell of a man
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
But I’m doing the best that I can
I guess you could say I’m a loner (yeah)
A cowboy outlaw, tough and proud
I could have a lot of friends if I wanted
But then I wouldn’t stand out from the crowd
Some folks say that I’m egotistical
Hell, I don’t even know what that means
I guess it has something to do with the way
That I fill out my skintight blue jeans
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
When you’re perfect in every way
I can’t wait to look in the mirror
But I get better lookin’ each day
To know me is to love me
I must be one hell of a man
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
But I’m doing the best that I can
Lord, it’s hard to be humble
But I’m doing the best that I can
