Willie Nelson Dusts Off a 1993 Fan Favorite for an Intimate Outlaw Fest Moment in Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 06: Singer Willie Nelson performs at "A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House" on the South Lawn November 6, 2014 in Washington, DC. The President and First Lady invited music legends, members of the U.S. military, military veterans, and their families to the White House for a celebration of the men and women who serve the United States. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)
What started as a single 2016 concert in Scranton, Pennsylvania, has since blossomed into Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival, a vibrant celebration of Americana music and the spirit of community. Nearly ten years on, the festival remains a staple on the live music scene. Although Nelson recently had to cancel an Oklahoma show due to severe weather damaging his band’s equipment, this setback has been minor compared to his many remarkable performances over the years. Most recently, the legendary singer delivered a heartfelt rendition of a track from the early 1990s.
Willie Nelson: Still Going Strong at 92
On August 9, at Hersheypark Stadium in Pennsylvania, Willie Nelson sat center stage with his iconic guitar “Trigger,” performing his 1993 song “Still Is Still Moving to Me.” Featured on his album Across the Borderline, the song is intriguingly complex, defying simple categorization. In a 2023 interview with Texas Monthly, Nelson’s son, Micah Nelson, described the track as neither a love song, a heartbreak ballad, nor a drinking or cheating tune.
Micah went further to say it isn’t even truly a country song. Instead, it’s universally relatable—a reflection on existence itself. “It’s about being alive, moving through life and reality, and trying to make sense of it all,” the 35-year-old musician explained.
In the lyrics, Willie captures this sentiment beautifully:
“And it’s hard to explain how I feel… It won’t go in words, but I know that it’s real. I can be moving or I can be still. But still is still moving to me.”
The song has become a signature closing piece in Nelson’s concerts. A fan shared a clip of his recent performance on TikTok, calling Willie Nelson “such a legend.”
“Playing With Time”
Having released over 150 albums, Willie Nelson has cemented his place as one of music’s most respected songwriters. Yet, as demonstrated by “Still Is Still Moving to Me,” his artistry goes beyond lyrics.
Micah describes his father’s unique approach to music:
“He’s always bending the rhythm, pushing and pulling, playing with time.”
The story behind the song’s creation is just as vivid. Micah recalls that his father wrote it while touring, likely in Europe. “He was out riding bikes with my mom, maybe with me and my brother tagging along on the back, when the lyrics came to him,” Micah said.
