Willie Nelson Pens Ode to His Death Hoaxes: “Still Not Dead Again Today”
There may not be another celebrity who’s been killed off by Facebook and the internet more times than country music legend Willie Nelson. The 82-year-old has been the victim of a number of high-profile death hoaxes over the years, including one on April 11th, 2015 when a hoax was posted saying the singer passed away on his property in Maui, and was found dead by his gardener. It was eventually shared on Facebook over half a million times.
Another death hoax was originally posted on February 21st, 2015. Both hoaxes took an even more sinister turn when the same people who started the hoax also turned around a reaped the rewards of debunking their own hoaxs, getting duped country music fans coming and going. Older celebrities like Willie Nelson are especially lucrative targets for hoaxters who reap big revenue from the viral traffic they create by preying on concerned fans.
Well at least Willie can laugh about it.
On the heels of releasing a new record Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin, Willie Nelson decided to release a new original song called “Still Not Dead Again Today,” lampooning his many, many death hoaxes. Included with the song is a video highlighting some of the information and images from many of the ridiculous hoaxes.
I woke up still not dead again today
The internet said I had passed away
Well if I died I wasn’t dead to stay
I woke up still not dead again today
Luckily Willie Nelson remains very much alive, and very active for your average 82-year-old. “They say my pace would kill a normal man,” says the new song, which should not just be an entertaining new installment in Willie’s legendary career, but a cautionary tale to Facebook and internet users to check snopes.com and other reputable sites before sharing any information on the death of a celebrity.
EDITORS NOTE: Apparently the video has been pulled, which is weird because it was originally published by Willie’s Official YouTube channel. Perhaps they decided to get the song ready for sale. Stay tuned.
March 12, 2016 @ 9:47 am
Way to go Willie, or better…. Way to not go Willie! 🙂
March 12, 2016 @ 12:26 pm
I was about to say the same thing…But you beat me to it…
So I copy this instead, think this will work too…:-)
“Some people are saying that time
Will take care of people like me
That I’m living too fast
And they say I can’t last much longer.”
March 12, 2016 @ 9:56 am
That’s a funny song lol
March 12, 2016 @ 9:57 am
That works!
What/where did Willie play last night with Ray Wylie Hubbard – Redneck Picnic? I saw some pics on FB and the venue looked awesome!
March 12, 2016 @ 10:07 am
There’s a venue called the Redneck Country Club that’s in Stafford, TX, which is a suburb of Houston. Looked like a pretty cool event. Never been there but it looks like a cool place.
March 12, 2016 @ 12:03 pm
National treasure. Keep waking up still not dead again, Willie!
March 12, 2016 @ 12:59 pm
Hilarious!!!!!!! He’s such a unique and creative character, and one of the greatest songwriters who ever walked.
And this is just a cookin’ tune! Love his guitar solo!
March 12, 2016 @ 1:42 pm
LOL That was cute! 🙂
March 12, 2016 @ 2:13 pm
Goddamn. Even in his 80’s that dude’s voice hasn’t missed a beat. I’d say he’s a once-in-a-generation type of guy, but he’s already spanned so many generations…he’s a fucking legend for very good reason.
March 12, 2016 @ 6:29 pm
The previous guy who was “still not dead again” for over 20 years, Abe Vigoda, is finally, unfortunately, no longer “still not dead.” Willie’s a worthy guy to inherit the mantle.
This song should be a hit!
March 13, 2016 @ 6:53 am
“This song should be a hit!”
Yes it really should. And hopefully it’ll put the people who write those kind of lies to shame…
I’ve played this song over and over again…
I love this part:
“They say my pace would kill a normal man…
But I’ve never been accused of being normal anyway”… 🙂 🙂
Love him!
March 12, 2016 @ 6:46 pm
“I’m not dead”
“He says he’s not dead”
“Yes he is”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdf5EXo6I68
March 12, 2016 @ 8:55 pm
So Blake Shelton is hosting the Kids’ Choice Awards. Am I the only one who finds it odd that a man who mostly sings about drinking is hosting a childrens’ show?
March 13, 2016 @ 6:16 am
Nah, he’ll fit right in. Who better to relate to immature selfish children who haven’t grown up than an immature selfish man who hasn’t grown up?
March 13, 2016 @ 10:07 pm
Calling Blake “immature” is fine, but it is rather harsh to call him “selfish” (or to call children “selfish”, for that matter).
March 14, 2016 @ 7:12 am
Well I’m a bit harsh and obnoxious by nature… so…
March 13, 2016 @ 11:02 am
Haha, good point. 🙂 Still, unless ‘The Voice’ is somehow really popular with kids, I’m guessing this was more to tie in with the upcoming ‘Angry Birds’ movie. :p
March 15, 2016 @ 6:42 am
Yeah, and I am still not over the disappointment that Trigger chose not to live blog it. Come on, man! I was so looking forward to your take on Zuma’s ‘Blake Inspired Look’, and Apollo on Facetime with Gwen, and Zendaya’s skeletal remains!! And ZERO comments on Blake getting slimed??? OMG!
I’d so love for Trigger to get in on Ellen’s Snapchat!!!
*clicks away from Us Weekly page*
March 13, 2016 @ 8:01 am
what happened to the video, I am getting pounded with requests,
March 13, 2016 @ 8:30 am
Yea, weird. It was posted by Willie Nelson’s official YouTube channel and posted on his official Facebook page. Perhaps they decided they should be making money off it since it was so well received. Not really sure.
March 13, 2016 @ 10:20 am
Yes, probably it says “this video is private” when you try to run it. Do you know if the song is going to be on an album or be released as a single.
March 13, 2016 @ 11:08 am
I haven’t heard any further info on this song. If/when I do, I will make sure to update it here. I know that Willie is working on an album of more original material. Since he signed with Sony, it’s been one more original album, and then an album of mostly standards. I would say there’s a good chance this song will be on it, but I’ve heard nothing official. My gut is telling me they put it out there as a joke, and Sony or somebody said, “Hey wait, let’s not burn it out on YouTube.” But this is just a guess.
March 13, 2016 @ 11:33 am
Thank you very much for the info, then I’ll just have to wait and see…
March 13, 2016 @ 11:34 am
Reminds me very much of the “Paul Is Dead” brouhaha of 1969, referring to supposed “clues” in some songs by the Beatles that indicated that Paul McCartney had died. Well, last I looked, Sir Paul is still very much alive. So the same can be said of Willie, where, to paraphrase the old saying, reports of his demise are greatly exaggerated.
April 4, 2017 @ 10:01 am
I’m going to assume that Keith Richard will do a cover at some point. Way to go, Willie! A national treasure!