Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road

Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die is a road journal that has the feel of Reader’s Digest and the faint aroma of ganja. Half road diary, half autobiography, half lyrics reprints, this ManBearPig tome can be read anywhere. The jokes, thoughts (including some on Occupy Wall Street), and memories range from wry observations (“do it wrong until it feels right”) to enlightened advice (a vaporizer is better on a singer’s lungs than smoking marijuana).

Yes, Willie beats the re-legalization and Farm Aid drums (as well he should) and also waxes wistful about a spiritualized Christianity and how things were better when he was young. But, even in this mode, Willie never sounds like an old man telling stories. However, he does repeat show more himself, as on poker with Ziggy Marley and Woody Harrelson in Edenic Maui.

Many of the vignettes that introduce us to Willie’s family and organization are written by others, which adds variety and often seems to shed more light on Nelson than he will reveal. Introduced by Texas troubadour Kinky Friedman, this small whimsical, and wise review of Willie’s greatest influences (Django Reinhardt!) and journey will fit in the smallest room of your house for regular reading.

See my review on Motor City Blog. show less

If you are a Willie Nelson fan, read this book. If you are NOT a Willie Nelson fan, then you should be, and you will be if you read this book. Willie is a great man, poet, philosopher and family man. The book? Why the book is a work of art. There are lyrics, ( mostly his own) and illustrations by his son Micah.

We all know a lot of things about Willie Nelson, his music, his tribulations and his charity. I had no idea that he was a philosopher, or a man so loving that his patchwork family doesn't know or care who started where or why. That, in my opinion, is his greatest talent. He is an amazing and loving family man.

Scattered throughout the book you will find stories and thoughts about Willie, written by family and friends. They are a show more beautiful tribute. This book is not great literature, but it is great art, and great love.

recommended show less

I went between two and three stars on this, and in the end went for the third star since I did mostly like it. This is more memoir than his previous book, The Tao of Willie, which I previously read. In a way, it is like sitting with Willie and just letting him reminisce. Some sections are more interesting than others, so the book does lend itself to browsing for the interesting parts. There are some rambling segments too, but overall I think fans will be pleased with this book. Willie does have an opinion on just about anything, and he is happy to share it even as he himself admits that, well, everyone has an opinion. A nice element of the book is that you get members of his family and friends writing about him and sharing memories show more about him. The book also features photos and some art by one of Willie Nelson's sons. I think the art complements the book nicely.

If you are a fan of Willie Nelson, you will probably like this book. Fans of country music and/or biographies by musicians will probably enjoy it as well. show less

In this memoir, the legendary Willie Nelson shares thoughts about his life. While traveling on the road, he muses about many topics from his upbringing and greatest influences, to his mistakes and regrets.

Willie is open and very frank about all of his thoughts. He discusses God, and what he strongly feels is the role we are meant to play in the world. His common sense thoughts on the environment are connected to this.

Willie openly discusses his influences and muses, giving credit where credit is due. With his trademark outlaw wisdom, he also discusses his beliefs on politics, with some questionable ideas.

The book is filled with poignant memories, and humorous anecdotes. Willie shares pictures, as well as drawings and artwork by his son show more Micah. Family and friends are clearly extremely important to Willie.

There is no doubt that he is an icon in country music. Respected by many, he is a prolific songwriter, a poet, and a champion of the underdog. This book reflects all that is Willie Nelson.

Having seen him several times in concert, I have always been a fan of Willie. I respect his honesty, his natural wisdom, and his music. He is genuine, which is hard to find today. He has the heart and the soul of a poet. I love this about him. show less

A short memoir from Willie, the book is a bit of a ramble with snippets of his life intertwined with song lyrics and reflections written by family members and close friends. Within the pages, a reader does get a brief glimpse of Willie's personal values, beliefs and philosophy. The many fans of Wille will enjoy. (lj)

Pg 115, Willie freaking Nelson, quotes Walt Whitman. Yes. My main man. Walt Whitman. Color me pleasantly surprised.

'And I say unto any man or woman, let your soul stand cool and collected before a million universes' -Walt Whitman