“Hurt” was a perfect song for Johnny Cash, a tortured declaration of pain and purpose sung by a man as famous for his demons as his talent. Listeners responded to the gravity in his voice, and the earned wisdom it conveyed, as much as anything else. Another singer might have just turned in karaoke.

The heartfelt rendition of The Flaming Lips' 2002 fan favorite appears on Nelson's upcoming album, Last Leaf on the Tree. Willie Nelson Reveals Tearjerking Cover of The Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??

Willie Nelson reinterprets a modern psych-pop classic with his cover of The Flaming Lips ‘ “Do You Realize??”. Shotgun Willie’s take on the Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots favorite will appear on the country icon’s largely covers album Last Leaf on the Tree, out November 1st.

Drozd said he regrets that his father will never hear Nelson’s rendition. “I wish he was still alive to see this happening, that Willie Nelson is doing a Flaming Lips song I had a part in co-writing,” he said. “He’d be very proud.” The two Lips expounded more on their feelings about the cover in a video interview.