Urgent:Rock Icon Willie Nelson Just Passed Away Recently.... Confronting his mortality is nothing new to Willie Nelson. Numerous songs about grieving loved ones, reflecting on aging, or making jokes about being wrapped up like a joint and smoked upon death have been written, performed, and made popular by the reedy-voiced country music However, Nelson's 76th new album, "Last Leaf on the Tree," which comes out this Friday, is arguably his most straightforward statement on the subject. The record, which was produced by his son Micah Nelson, has been characterized as his father's "facing mortality with grace." "Last Leaf," the first single, is a heartfelt ballad that was first performed by Tom Waits. The narrator notes, "I am the last leaf on the tree." "They will not take me / I am the final leaf on the tree / The autumn took the With Willie's heartfelt vocals and an evocative, funereal production, Nelson transforms the song into an autobiographical one. This is due to the fact that he lost his close buddy Kris Kristofferson only last month, making Nelson the only surviving member of the Highwaymen country ensemble and one of the last country music giants from his generation to continue playing. Paraphrase With Willie's heartfelt vocals and an evocative, funereal production, Nelson transforms the song into an autobiographical one. This is due to the fact that he lost his close buddy Kris Kristofferson only last month, making Nelson the only surviving member of the Highwaymen country ensemble and one of the last country music giants from his generation to continue playing. ...