Willie Nelson released a video for his newly recorded song, “We Are the Cowboys.” The song is featured on Willie’s upcoming album, First Rose of Spring, which drops on July 3.
The tune was originally recorded—and penned—by Billy Joe Shaver on his 1981 album, I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal. Willie also put his pipes to the song with Shaver, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson on the 1999 album, Honk Tonk Heroes.
Almost 40 years after its initial recording, Willie has brought the song back to life, singing: “Cowboys are average American people / Texicans, Mexicans, Black men and Jews / They love this old world and they don’t want to lose it / They’re counting on me and they’re counting on you.”
Watch Willie’s new video, which was directed by his son, Micah Nelson.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
