Writing in a new memoir, Willie Nelson talked about when he was almost overtaken by depression, so much so that he thought of taking his own life, but a friend pulled him out of the darkness.
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Willie Nelson Shares Graphic Details Of His Suicide Attempt
In his new memoir, “Me and Paul: Untold Stories of a Fabled Friendship” the country legend paid tribute to his old pal and drummer Paul English.
Nelson, 89, first met Paul at a small Texas station in 1955, he had no idea about how that moment would go on to change his life.
Over the years, the two would go on to form a close bond that lasted until Paul English passed away in February 2020, and continues to endure in Nelson’s memories.
In 1971, Nelson immortalized their close friendship in a song “Me and Paul”. Following his friend’s death, Nelson penned a book about their most memorable moments together.
The book, out Tuesday, September 20, paid a touching and special tribute to the strength of the bond Nelson and English shared. It also revealed how English improved Nelson’s life for more than six decades.
While the book had its anecdotes and humourous sides, there was also darker themes, like when Nelson was caught in the grips of depression.
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The country star recalled moving to Nashville to make it in his dream of being a musician. Nelson recalled: “This was me in my late twenties, trying to get a handle on things. I couldn’t. I’d been encouraged by pals like Paul and pros like Mae Axton to make my mark in a city where country music had made many an artist a millionaire. But after months of hustling, I was still a pauper. This trailer park was several levels below the way my family had been living. Our run-down apartment in the boondocks of Houston looked better than the view of the tombstones right outside our dilapidated home on wheels.”
Willie Nelson Recalls His Hardships
He recalled how the hardships truly tried his “get up and go attitude”, even though, according to him, he wasn’t normally the person that would fall prey to depression.
“I hadn’t ever lived in a place where singers and songwriters formed a big, vibrant community. I wasn’t unwelcome in that community. But my problem was seeing how so many of its members were making a living making music while I wasn’t. Not a dime. Not only was no one interested in my songs, I had a hell of a time finding a barroom where I could sing.”
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He remembered being forced to go back to “hawking encyclopedias”, which broke him. This made him turn to drinking as a means to escape the fears and worries that plagued him.
The thoughts and the depth of his sunken self-esteem made him consider ending his life. But Paul, in the nick of time, saved him from himself, and eventually helped him build the connections that led to his success.
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