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You Have The Right Not To Be Killed
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JohnnyCashFan said:
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When I was a junior in high school, I snagged a couple tickets to see Willie Nelson & Family on their 1978 tour. The openers were Johnny Paycheck & Emmylou Harris.

I had a "yes" from a friend to take the second ticket. He was notorious for bailing at the last minute because his girlfriend didn't want him to do things and that's exactly what happened. Found a taker for the ticket as well as a driver for the show - my history teacher. He was a pretty free thinking dude for a southern high school teacher in 1978.

We hit town, grabbed a pizza and a couple pitchers of beer and proceeded to the show. Tix were directly in front of the soundboard. I got a glimpse at Willie's setlist. I rubbed my eyes, shook my head and looked again. I saw the same thing - there were 53 songs on the setlist. Some were done as a medley, but he played every damn one. Got 'Whiskey River' three times - show opener, main set closer, show closer. What a concert.

Our neighbors at the show had some very fine weed. My history teacher got royally fucked up. So much so that I learned to drive a stick that night and piloted a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia the two hour drive back to the house. On Monday morning at school, he pulled me aside and basically said "I did some stuff that could really get me in a lot of trouble if certain folks found out. You cool?". Yep - I was cool.

Even before the Willie trip, Mr. Deal was a great teacher and an even better human being. He ran the yearbook staff and a few years after I graduated he suffered a fatal heart attack on the sideline while taking photos at a football game.

I always think of him when I play this LP recorded on the 1978 tour...

Willie Nelson - Willie And Family Live

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