Willie Nelson Covers Johnny Paycheck’s “Only Hell” for Mother’s Day
Willie Nelson’s latest album First Rose of Spring has been postponed until July 3rd due to Coronavirus concerns (it was supposed to be released April 24th), but he’s celebrating Mother’s Day by releasing his cover of Johnny Paycheck’s infamous song “I’m The Only Hell My Mama Ever Raised.” Not exactly a sweet song for that special matriarch in your family, it nonetheless conveys an appreciation for mothers and all they have to put up with from rowdy sons in a similar way to Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried.”
Written by Wayne Kemp, Bobby Borchers, and Mack Vickery, the song became a Top 10 hit for Paycheck in 1977 and appeared on his album Slide Off Your Satin Sheets. It was Paycheck’s precursor on the radio to his signature hit, “Take This Job and Shove It.”
Willie Nelson and Johnny Paycheck do have a history together. They both served Ray Price in his backing band The Cherokee Cowboys early in their careers, and they both worked as songwriters before hitting it big as performers. They also both became synonymous with the Outlaw style of country as their careers unfolded. Willie and Paycheck sang “Take This Job and Shove It” together for Willie Nelson’s album Willie & Family Live in 1978.
As for Willie, he never knew his own mother very well. Growing up in Abbott, TX, his parents separated soon after he was born and his mother left the family. His father remarried and moved away as well, which left Willie and his sister Bobby to be raised by their grandparents. They were the first to instill a strong musical background in the two future country stars.
First Rose of Spring will be Willie Nelson’s 70th studio record, and will also include covers of Billy Joe Shaver’s “Where Are All The Cowboys,” Chris Stapleton’s “Our Song,” and Toby Keith’s “Don’t Let The Old Man In.”
May 10, 2020 @ 10:41 am
Buddy Cannon’s production on Willie is second to none, in my opinion. This is awsome.
May 10, 2020 @ 11:56 am
Bedrock, like mama.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the SCM mama’s who told us to be good.
Mamas tried!
May 10, 2020 @ 12:35 pm
Great version of a great song, I hope I’m as productive as Willie at his age, hell he’ smore productive than me at my current age! I hear Mickey on Harmonica, would love to know who’s playing Pedal Steel, looking forward to the release!
May 10, 2020 @ 1:10 pm
I prefer Hank3’s version over anyone’s. Even Paycheck.
May 13, 2020 @ 7:07 pm
Hank III’s cut is fine if you’re a III fan, but I don’t know if I’d even call it a “version” of the song, since he sings a different melody.
May 10, 2020 @ 1:14 pm
Same this song to myself, alone in a jail cell in Fremont, CA, during my first good old boy in trouble moment at 18.
Great song.
May 10, 2020 @ 2:55 pm
Way to go Willie, just great.
May 10, 2020 @ 4:23 pm
I listen to Johnny Paycheck quite a bit
He has one of the best voices I’ve ever heard in country music
Good luck to Willie on his 70th album
I’ve been there for most of them
May 10, 2020 @ 6:41 pm
And it’s a David Allan Coe song… it was said that DAC didn’t like Paycheck’s version, but I’m sure he appreciated the mailbox money from the songwriting and mechanical royalties.
May 11, 2020 @ 2:14 am
You mean Take this Job and Shove it of course. That was indeed a Coe song. But this song as Trig mentioned was written by Wayne Kemp, Borchers and Mack Vickery. Was surprised to hear steel on Willie’s version, seeing as how rare it can be to hear a lot of steel on any of his music. ( Willie’s music) Pretty faithful to the original I gotta say. He doesn’t sing it with menace like Paycheck did however. There’s a version on YouTube of Paycheck with Haggard s band performing this live at the Chillicothee Correctional Facility where Paycheck did time. Hag brought The Strangers there to play with him and record a live album at the prison , produced by Billy Don Burns. What a great version of the song they played that day. Unfortunately, the show never saw the light of day with a release due to legal issues. But video has finally surfaced after all these years. Check it out!
May 11, 2020 @ 5:33 am
I like Willies version batter than Paychecks- I never was really a Paycheck fan. I think some of his *pre-outlaw* days was good but it’s been so long since I heard any of that I can’t even recall any of the titles.
Mothers Day music for me was/is “Mama’s Hungry Eyes”-
May 11, 2020 @ 8:34 am
wow,i´m reading Willie´s bio Right now and falling in love again with his Music.
May 11, 2020 @ 12:13 pm
Go Willie go
If you’re never heard Daryle Singletary’s version, it’s probably my favorite. Worth the listen.