About The Song
“Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” is a song performed by Willie Nelson, released on April 20, 2012, as the lead single from his album Heroes on Legacy Recordings. Written by Nelson, Buddy Cannon, Rich Alves, John Colgin, and Mike McQuerry, the song was released on 4/20, a date tied to cannabis culture in North America. The track features guest vocals from Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson, and Jamey Johnson, peaking at No. 42 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and charting for 10 weeks. The 3:26 song humorously addresses Nelson’s passing, with lyrics like: “Roll me up and smoke me when I die / And if anyone don’t like it, just look ‘em in the eye.”
Nelson recorded the song in 2011 at Pedernales Recording Studio in Austin, Texas, produced by Buddy Cannon. The session included The Family band, with Mickey Raphael on harmonica, Kevin “Swine” Grantt on bass, and Bobbie Nelson on piano, alongside the guest artists. The arrangement blends honky-tonk with a laid-back groove, featuring Raphael’s harmonica, Snoop Dogg’s rap verse, and a group chorus, creating a celebratory vibe. The album Heroes reached No. 4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and sold over 300,000 copies by 2013, per RIAA records, reflecting Nelson’s enduring appeal.
The song’s concept emerged during a writing session with Cannon, inspired by Nelson’s well-known advocacy for cannabis legalization and his playful take on mortality. The collaboration with Snoop Dogg, Kristofferson, and Johnson added a cross-genre appeal, bridging country and hip-hop. In a 2012 interview with Rolling Stone, Nelson said: “It’s my way of saying don’t mourn me—have a good time.” The track gained attention through a 2013 vinyl release on Discogs, a 45 rpm/m single, and was featured in posts on X, where fans celebrated its irreverent tone.
Covers of the song are limited, but a live version by Nelson and Snoop Dogg was performed at Nelson’s 90th birthday celebration at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on April 29, 2023, documented on YouTube. The song appeared in a 2015 episode of The Ranch, used in a humorous scene, and in a 2016 cannabis culture documentary, Blaze of Glory, aired on PBS. Nelson performed it live with Congressman Beto O’Rourke at the 2018 Fourth of July Picnic, as noted in a Rolling Stone post from July 2018.
Nelson frequently included “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” in his live sets, notably at the 2012 Farm Aid in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where he closed the show with it. The song was featured at the 2014 Fourth of July Picnic in Fort Worth, Texas, and in a 2019 documentary, Willie Nelson: High Notes, aired on PBS, exploring his cannabis advocacy. The track remains a crowd-pleaser in Nelson’s performances, often paired with other lighthearted songs, reflecting his rebellious spirit.
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Lyric
Roll me up and smoke me when I die
And if anyone don’t like it, just look ‘em in the eye
I didn’t come here, and I ain’t leaving
So don’t sit around and cry
Just roll me up and smoke me when I dieYou won’t see no sad and teary eyes
When I get my wings and it’s my time to fly
Call my friends and tell ‘em
There’s a party, come on by
So just roll me up and smoke me when I dieRoll me up and smoke me when I die
And if anyone don’t like it, just look ‘em in the eye
I didn’t come here, and I ain’t leaving
So don’t sit around and cry
Just roll me up and smoke me when I dieWhen I go, don’t you shed a tear
Just light a match and say a prayer
Take my ashes to a place I love
And set my spirit free up thereRoll me up and smoke me when I die
And if anyone don’t like it, just look ‘em in the eye
I didn’t come here, and I ain’t leaving
So don’t sit around and cry
Just roll me up and smoke me when I die