I was exchanging song fragments with a friend at the Strawberry Music Festival, and he pulled this out as 'his favorite Willie Nelson song fragment.' It was two verses, without a chorus or bridge. I immediately felt like I could write 'the rest of the story,' so I did. Later, I found out that this 'fragment' had been released as a song on Nelson's album, Phases and Stages, in 1974. It had been played as: Verse 1, Verse 2, musical bridge, repeat Verse 1 twice.
I contacted ASCAP to find out if I could play the song out, and record it, etc. As I have not changed the musical or lyrical content of the original, only added to it, their perspective is that it constitutes a medley of songs - new material that I call 'The Ramblin' Kind' with Nelson's original verses. I will pay mechanical royalties to Willie Nelson for each song downloaded, and a portion of any album downloaded as well.
lyrics
Lyrics to Walkin' by Willie Nelson
(as learned, folk style at a Strawberry campground, from Ray Vazira) :
Verse 1:
After carefully considering the whole situation,
I stand here with my back against the wall.
Walkin' is better than running away,
and crawlin' ain't no good at all.
Verse 2:
If guilt is the question, then truth is the answer,
I've been lying to me all along
There ain't nothing worth saving here except one another
so before you wake up I'll be gone
Repeat verse 1 twice.
===================
Lyrics to The Ramblin' Kind / Walkin' Medley
Verse 1 (of Walkin'):
After carefully considering the whole situation,
I stand here with my back against the wall.
Walkin' is better than running away,
and crawlin' ain't no good at all.
Chorus (Ramblin' Kind):
Babe you know I'm just the ramblin' kind
Though I've tried I cannot seem to change my soul
I've been standing here so long, pretending I belong
but my heart never left the open road
Verse 2 (Walkin'):
If guilt is the question, then truth is the answer,
I've been lying to me all along
There ain't nothing worth saving here except one another
so before you wake up I'll be gone
Chorus (Ramblin' Kind):
Babe you know I'm just the ramblin' kind
Though I've tried I cannot seem to change my soul
I've been standing here so long, pretending I belong
but my heart never left the open road
Bridge (Ramblin' Kind)
Sometimes I wish I had roots to cling to,
I guess we all miss the things we lack
But the only thing in my whole world that's never changed
is my love for the wind against my back
Alt. Chorus (Ramblin' Kind):
Babe you know I'm just the ramblin' kind
Though I've tried for you I cannot change my soul
It pains me to leave you, I don't like to let you go
but my heart never left the open road
Tag ending
credits
from Bootlegs and Bedrooms,
released January 1, 2015
Walkin' (Verses) by Willie Nelson, 1974
The Ramblin' Kind (Chorus and Bridge) by Mandalyn May, 2010
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