Introduction
Willie Nelson’s rendition of “All Things Must Pass,” the profound George Harrison composition, appears on his 2021 album The Willie Nelson Family, where his son, Lukas Nelson, takes the lead vocal. This cover beautifully translates the song’s spiritual and melancholic core into the familiar, warm territory of American roots music. While Harrison’s original was a grand, orchestral statement about the transience of life, the Nelson family version offers a stripped-down, intimate meditation.
The song’s core message—that “Sunrise doesn’t last all morning / A cloudburst doesn’t last all day”—resonates deeply within the context of Willie Nelson’s own long life and career, where he has consistently grappled with themes of time and mortality. Lukas Nelson’s clear, soulful voice carries the weight of the lyrics, particularly the philosophical realization that “None of life’s strings can last.” Willie himself provides background vocals and his signature, understated guitar work on Trigger, lending an air of seasoned wisdom and familial connection to the track.
The arrangement is simple, featuring piano by Bobbie Nelson and harmonica by Mickey Raphael, emphasizing the song’s timeless melody and universal truth. By keeping the music close to the bone, the Nelson family turns a rock classic into a secular hymn, a quiet acceptance of impermanence. It is a powerful performance that not only honors George Harrison’s masterful songwriting but also reaffirms Willie Nelson’s career-long commitment to finding the deepest truths in simple, honest music.
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