About the Song
Featured on the 1976 live album Waylon Live, “Me and Paul” is a raucous yet heartfelt celebration of camaraderie, chaos, and the outlaw life on tour. Originally written by Willie Nelson about his long-time drummer and friend Paul English, the song became a natural fit for Waylon Jennings, who infused it with his own brand of grit, humor, and lived experience.
On stage, Jennings delivers “Me and Paul” with warmth and authenticity, capturing the spirit of restless musicians who live their lives between motels, honky-tonks, and highway lines. His deep, rugged voice carries both mischief and nostalgia, transforming Nelson’s already personal song into a shared story—one that could have been written for Waylon himself and any of his road companions.
The live recording on Waylon Live pulses with energy. You can hear the band’s chemistry—the twang of guitars, the steady rhythm section, and the audience’s engagement as Jennings weaves through each verse. He sings of “busted flat in Laredo” moments and brushes with trouble, but it’s never self-pitying. Instead, it’s affectionate and self-aware, honoring the friendship that made the road bearable and the misadventures worth remembering.
For older listeners, “Me and Paul” embodies a slice of authentic outlaw country history. It’s more than just a song; it’s a window into a time when Jennings and his peers—Nelson, Kristofferson, and Cash—were reshaping country music from the inside out. Through its humor and humility, the song reminds us that behind the legend of Waylon Jennings was a man who valued loyalty, laughter, and the shared trials of the road.
In the context of Waylon Live, this track shines as one of the album’s most personable and relatable moments. It’s a story about friendship, endurance, and the joy of simply surviving the journey—told by a man who truly lived it.