3 Great Songs That Sprang From Getting High with Willie Nelson

Few artists in American music have inspired as many songs — or smoky stories — as Willie Nelson. With a catalog that stretches across decades and genres, Nelson isn’t just known for his songwriting; he’s also become a muse for others, especially when it comes to one of his favorite pastimes.

Plenty of musicians have penned tunes about lighting up with the country legend, each capturing their own unforgettable encounter with the man, the myth, and the marijuana. Here are a few memorable ones.

“Willie Got Me Stoned and Stole All of My Money” — Jack Johnson

Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson got more than he bargained for the night he sat down to play poker with Willie Nelson. The story, immortalized in Johnson’s cheeky tune “Willie Got Me Stoned and Stole All of My Money,” recounts his experience before performing at Farm Aid 2015 — Nelson’s long-running charity festival for family farmers.

Of course, the “theft” was all in good fun. Johnson admits he was probably just terrible at poker, but the humorous song became both a tribute and a testament to Nelson’s larger-than-life charm. Johnson still performs it live at Farm Aid events as a nod to his friend and mentor.

“Weed With Willie” — Toby Keith

Perhaps the most iconic country anthem about smoking with Willie Nelson, Toby Keith’s “Weed With Willie,” was inspired by a real-life encounter in Las Vegas. As Keith tells it, he joined Nelson for a smoke session before Charles Barkley’s birthday party — and quickly realized he was in way over his head.

Keith later joked that he “couldn’t even function” afterward, calling Nelson’s stash “the most hardcore” he’d ever encountered. The song captures the hilarious aftermath of that experience and has since become a country classic — and a cautionary tale about trying to keep up with Willie.

“Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” — Willie Nelson (feat. Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson & Jamey Johnson)

This one comes straight from Willie himself. Released on his 2012 album Heroes, “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” features a dream lineup of like-minded artists: Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson, and Jamey Johnson. Co-written with Buddy Cannon and Rich Alves, the song is both a tongue-in-cheek nod to Nelson’s countercultural roots and a heartfelt embrace of his laid-back philosophy.

With its mix of humor, heart, and haze, the track stands as one of the most memorable late-career highlights in Nelson’s catalog — and a perfect example of why he remains country music’s reigning weed icon.