Are You Sure

Album: Pageant Material (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This hidden track, which appears at the end of Pageant Material, was originally recorded by Willie Nelson in the 1960s. Nelson sings on Musgraves' version as well as playing his iconic guitar, Trigger. "I really am a big fan of nostalgic hidden tracks," Musgraves told Spin. "It was something I was a big fan of growing up."

    "So I thought, Willie Nelson is an artist that's an album artist," she continued. "He's not a single artist. I don't consider myself like that either so I thought this was a really nice, special moment and a treat for the people who make it to the very end of the record. Like, the record is over and slowly this western world — a kind of hazy, stoned-sounding western world — arises as a surprise at the end."
  • Kacey Musgraves had joined Willie Nelson during select dates of his 2014 tour. This collaboration came about while she was on Nelson's tour bus and asked him why he doesn't play the song live anymore. "He couldn't believe I knew it," she recalled to Radio.com. "I just really loved it. It's very honest and very country, [and] it's a neat perspective. He seemingly pulled a guitar out of a cloud of smoke and started strumming. I was of course dying inside a little bit."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.