Willie Nelson Announces New Book About Longtime Friend and Drummer Paul English

"If someone tries to tell my story without putting Paul by my side, don't bother reading it"

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Aug 17, 2022

Willie Nelson continues to build out his bibliography with the announcement of a new book. The country music icon will share Me and Paul: Untold Tales of a Fabled Friendship on September 20 via Harper Horizon.

The Paul in question is Nelson's longtime friend and collaborator Paul English, who has served as the singer-songwriter's drummer, bodyguard, accountant and, as Nelson has put it, "guardian angel." The two first played together in Fort Worth, TX, in 1955, with their friendship lasting over six decades until English's 2020 passing.

Nelson the book with music journalist David Ritz, who previously collaborated with the singer-songwriter on 2015's It's a Long Story: My Life and Me, and 2020's Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band.

"There's something about my friendship with Paul that reminds me of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn," Nelson writes of his late collaborator in a statement. "Tom was more civilized and Huck was wilder. Although I was plenty wild at age 22, I'd have to say Paul was wilder. Like Tom and Huck, though, we became a team. Nothing could or would ever separate us. If someone tries to tell my story without putting Paul by my side, don't bother reading it."

In April, Nelson released new album A Beautiful Time, which arrived on his 89th birthday. Yesterday, it was announced he had contributed to a Billy Joe Shaver tribute album.

Saddle up and ride towards the country legend's greatest work with Exclaim!'s Essential Guide to Willie Nelson.

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