About the song
There’s something deeply comforting about listening to Willie Nelson – It Gets Easier—a song that feels like a warm, familiar conversation with an old friend. Released in 2017 as part of his album God’s Problem Child, this reflective ballad captures Nelson’s signature blend of wisdom, warmth, and honesty. At the time of the song’s release, Willie Nelson was well into his 80s, and with it came a lifetime of experience distilled into simple yet profound lyrics.
Unlike many of his earlier works, which often focused on love, heartbreak, or the struggles of the road, It Gets Easier takes a different approach. It’s a song about acceptance—about learning to let go of regrets, disappointments, and the burdens that once felt so heavy. The melody is gentle, carried by Nelson’s unmistakable voice, which has aged like a fine whiskey—weathered yet full of character. His phrasing, always slightly behind the beat, makes the song feel even more intimate, as if he’s sharing a personal truth in real-time.
One of the most striking aspects of It Gets Easier is its lyrical simplicity. With lines like “It gets easier as we get older, it gets easier to say goodbye,” Nelson delivers a sentiment that is both reassuring and melancholic. He acknowledges the reality of aging, but instead of resisting it, he embraces it with a calm sense of understanding. The song is neither mournful nor bitter—it carries the perspective of someone who has lived fully and now finds peace in letting go of what no longer serves him.
Musically, the song is built on a gentle, stripped-down arrangement, allowing Nelson’s voice and acoustic guitar to take center stage. There are no grand orchestrations or dramatic flourishes—just the kind of understated elegance that has defined his music for decades. His longtime collaborator, producer Buddy Cannon, helps shape the song with subtle, tasteful production that never overshadows the lyrics.
Ultimately, Willie Nelson – It Gets Easier is a song about wisdom, aging, and the beauty of acceptance. It’s a reminder that while life may not always get simpler, our perspective on it does. And in the hands of a storyteller like Willie Nelson, that message feels like a gift.
Video
Lyrics
It gets easier, as we get older
It gets easier to say “not today”
And it gets easier, as we get older
To say “go away and not today”
I don’t have to do
One damn thing
That I don’t want to do
Except for missing you
And that won’t go away
It gets easier to say “some other time”
It gets easier to tell the world to wait
And it gets easier to watch the world fly by
And tell it, “I will catch up, but not today”
I don’t have to do
One damn thing
That I don’t want to do
Except for missing you
And that won’t go away
Except for missing you
And that won’t go away
