About the song
There’s something uniquely comforting about the voice of Willie Nelson—that unmistakable blend of weathered wisdom and heartfelt vulnerability. For decades, he has been the gentle troubadour of American music, weaving together stories of longing, love, and quiet introspection. And in his song “There You Are,” Nelson brings all of that rich emotional depth into focus, delivering a performance that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Originally released as part of his 1989 album A Horse Called Music, “There You Are” is a slow-burning, contemplative ballad that captures the ache of memory and the persistence of love. It’s the kind of song that doesn’t rush to make its point—true to Nelson’s style, it takes its time, unfurling like a quiet conversation late at night. The lyrics are deceptively simple, but they carry the weight of someone who’s lived long enough to understand that the past never really disappears. Even when we think we’ve moved on, it can resurface in the most unexpected moments. “There you are,” he sings, and suddenly a face, a feeling, a chapter long thought closed, comes back into focus.
Musically, the track is classic Willie—gentle guitar strumming, soft harmonies, and that signature phrasing of his, always just slightly behind the beat, like he’s taking a moment to savor each line. There’s no flashy production here, no need for dramatic swells or orchestration. The power lies in its restraint, in the honesty of its delivery. Nelson has always understood that emotion doesn’t need to shout to be heard.
“There You Are” is a song for anyone who’s ever been caught off guard by a memory, who’s felt the pull of a love that lingers long after the goodbye. It’s a quiet reminder that the heart keeps its own calendar, often bringing the past into the present when we least expect it. And as always, Nelson delivers that truth not with melodrama, but with grace, humility, and the kind of empathy that only comes from a lifetime of looking closely at the world—and listening.
Video
Lyrics
He was tougher than leather
And he didn’t care whether
The sun shined or not
When a young kid in Cow Town
Wanted a showdown
He was careless or just maybe forgot
But he died in the gunfight
Blinded by sunlight
Never draw when you’re facin’ the sun
And old tougher than leather
Just carved one more notch on his gun
And when he turned to go
The beautiful maiden knelt down
Where her dead sweetheart lay
And on his breast placed a rose
While the townspeople stared in dismay
And old tougher than leather
Should’ve known better
But he picked up the rose in his hand
And the townspeople froze
When his hands crushed the rose
And the rose petals fell in the sand
And old tougher than leather
Was a full-time go-getter
The grass never grew beneath his feet
From one town to another
He would ride like the wind
But his mind kept going back to the street
Where a young cowboy died
And a young maiden cried
And rose petals fell in the sand
And his heart had been softened
By the beautiful maid
And he knew he must see her again
Well he went back to the town
Where it all had come down
And he searched but his search was in vain
He had wanted to find her
And say he was sorry
For causing her heart so much pain
But one night he died from a poison inside
Brought on by the wrong he had done
And old tougher than leather
Had carved his last notch on his gun
Well he was burried in Cow Town
Along about sundown
Lookin’ good in his new store-bought clothes
When the young maiden came over
And knelt down beside him
And on his lapel placed a rose
There’s a bird in the sky
Flying high, flying high
To a place from a place
Changing skies, changing skies
