Introduction
Willie Nelson’s “It Gets Easier,” co-written with his frequent collaborator Buddy Cannon, is a remarkably candid and philosophically resonant track from his 2017 album, God’s Problem Child. Released as Nelson entered his mid-eighties, the song offers a witty, self-aware perspective on aging, personal freedom, and the simple luxury of saying no. It’s an ode to the wisdom and earned defiance that comes with a long life lived on one’s own terms.
The lyrics beautifully capture a sense of liberation that stems from surviving decades in the relentless spotlight of the music industry. The recurring lines, “It gets easier, as we get older / It gets easier to say, ‘not today’ / And it gets easier to tell the world to wait,” aren’t a lament about slowing down, but a proud declaration of independence. Nelson’s weathered, conversational vocal delivery, accompanied by his signature spare, elegant acoustic arrangement, gives the song a deeply personal and authentic feel. His voice carries the authority of a man who has genuinely seen it all.
The song’s core emotional complexity lies in the final, heartfelt caveat: “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.” This sudden turn from wry humor to poignant vulnerability grounds the track, revealing that while the external pressures of life may fade, the internal pain of loss remains. “It Gets Easier” is therefore not just a reflection on retirement or old age; it is a profound lesson in prioritizing peace, acknowledging inescapable heartbreak, and living with the quiet grace of a true outlaw.