One of Willie Nelson’s Top Hits reached #1 March 21,1981

It was March 21st, 1981 that one of Willie Nelson's biggest hits reached #1 nationally.

In my opinion, 'Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground' is one of the best songs Willie ever wrote and recorded, and that's saying a lot because he has so many!

The single was Willie Nelson's seventh number one on the country chart as a solo artist and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the country charts.

Nelson wrote and performed this song in his starring role as a Country singer in the movie Honeysuckle Rose from 1981. If you've never seen the Movie...make plans to!

What the song is actually about, is up for debate. Some say it's about his former wife Connie Koepke. Others believe it was written about Charlie "Magoo" Tinsley, a good friend of Nelson's who happened to also be a member of The Hells Angels. Yet others think it was written about his divorce from Willie's first wife, Martha Matthews.

During live performances, Nelson sometimes dedicates this song to his son Billy, the third child from his first marriage who committed suicide in 1991.

Willie Nelson, once speaking about the song, said...'It and a whole bunch of other songs I’ve written are the reflection of what I’ve learned on a really great ride on the merry-go-round called Earth.'

Numerous artist have covered the song including Bob Dylan and Cross Canadian Ragweed among others.

It's a beautiful song and I encourage you to take a moment to remember it's rise to the top on this date in 1981! In the above video, Willie Nelson performs 'Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground' Recorded Live at Farm Aid 2016.