About The Song
“Funny How Time Slips Away” is a country song written by Willie Nelson in 1961, first recorded by Billy Walker and released as a single by Columbia Records in June that year. Walker’s version peaked at No. 23 on the Hot C&W Sides chart and was later included on his 1963 Greatest Hits album. Nelson recorded his own version in 1962 for his debut album And Then I Wrote on Liberty Records, a significant milestone as it marked his early struggle for recognition in Nashville. The 3:02 track reflects on the passage of time and lost love, with lyrics like: “Well, hello there / My, it’s been a long, long time.” Nelson wrote the song during a tough period in Houston in the early 1960s, working as a radio DJ while trying to support his family.
Nelson penned the song in a single week alongside “Crazy” and “Night Life,” inspired by a common phrase he’d heard: “It’s funny how time slips away.” He recalled in a 1975 interview: “Somewhere during the trip, the line came to me, and I thought, ‘It’s funny there’s never been a song by that title.’” Initially offered to Faron Young for $500, Young declined to buy it but loaned Nelson the money instead. Young later recorded it, and his version earned Nelson $20,000 in royalties shortly after. Nelson’s 1962 recording, produced by Joe Allison, features a simple arrangement with acoustic guitar and understated percussion, highlighting his unique phrasing and emotional delivery.
The song became a country standard, covered by numerous artists across genres, including Elvis Presley for his 1971 album Elvis Country (I’m 10,000 Years Old), Jimmy Elledge (1961, No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling over a million copies), and Al Green, whose 1973 soulful rendition spans eight minutes with spoken-word elements. A 2017 duet with Glen Campbell on Campbell’s final album Adiós won the CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year at the 51st Annual Country Music Association Awards. Nelson recorded multiple duet versions, including with Faron Young on their 1985 album Funny How Time Slips Away and with Ray Price in 1980 for San Antonio Rose.
A notable performance came in 1997 during an Austin City Limits songwriters’ special, where Nelson’s rendition moved Kris Kristofferson to tears and Billy Joe Shaver to deep reflection, showcasing the song’s emotional weight even after decades. Nelson often included it in live sets, sometimes as a spoken-word version, as seen in a 1979 Austin City Limits show. The song has appeared in media, including the 2016 episode “Switch” of Better Call Saul and the 2020 film The Devil All the Time. Its universal theme of nostalgia resonated widely, making it one of Nelson’s most enduring compositions.
The song’s early rejection by Nashville labels, who found Nelson’s style too artsy, reflected the industry’s initial resistance to his sound. Nelson later said: “I enjoyed fooling around with phrasing, but it made my sound noncommercial for all those Nashville ears.” Its success helped pave the way for Nelson’s later breakthroughs, like Red Headed Stranger (1975). “Funny How Time Slips Away” remains a testament to Nelson’s songwriting prowess, capturing a universal sentiment that transcends country music.
Video
Lyric
Well, hello there
My, it’s been a long, long time
How am I doing?
Oh, I guess that I’m doing fine
It’s been so long now
But it seems now, that it was only yesterday
Gee, ain’t it funny, how time slips awayHow’s your new love?
I hope that he’s doing fine
I heard you told him
That you’d love him till the end of time
Now, that’s the same thing that you told me
Seems like just the other day
Gee, ain’t it funny, how time slips awayI gotta go now
I guess I’ll see you around
Don’t know when though
Never know, when I’ll be back in town
But remember, what I tell you
In time you’re gonna pay
And it’s surprising, how time slips away