Willi Carlisle | "Tulsa's Last Magician" | Western AF 

Willi's new record "Peculiar, Missouri" releases July 15th on all streaming platforms and of course hard copies purchasing is highly encouraged. You can pre-order the vinyl and physical copies at: lnk.to/peculiarmissouri Support the artists and buy their music if you have the means.

Thanks to the WAF team and all y'all...When I wrote this, I thought it was garbage-- there's a part of all this where you never know what you're doing, just certain you have to do it. The release matters, the joy changes everything, especially when we sing together. Thanks for listening, friends. You're the magic! It's you. Always has been.

This might be my favorite Carlisle song. Can't lie.

Sir, if this song was all you'd done with your life, I'd say you'd have repaid the debt of whatever resources you've consumed and perhaps even whoever's hearts you've broken along the way. godspeed friend.

That tear must contain every emotion known to humanity.

Being a magician from a small town in Indiana and coming to Florida to seek treatment from drug addiction and to chase my dream of becoming a professional magician this song hits home in a way I really can't explain but greatly appreciate. Thank you so much.

listening to this while you're making a playlist to distract yourself for a shift at a job you don't care about hits DIFFERENT

Willi Carlisle, the modern day poet to the world. The lyrics, my lord the lyrics. Tugs on your heartstrings and every emotion you never thought you had. He is a true treasure.

This one cuts deep and hits me in a special time in my life. Just what I needed. Thanks so much for your music Willi, helps me to keep my head up. Chords and lyrics below for everyone interested folks! Head over to Ultimate Guitar for exact timing Standard tuning, no Capo 99% of it is the same as the studio version Don't let the chords frighten you. The A-Asus4-A5-switch just needs long fingers and Dmaj7sus4 is basically a G 2 frets up If that's too hard for you, just play a simple A and D instead, works fine as well He plays a lot of Dsus2 (x00230) and Dsus4 (x00233) which I didn't note for reasons of simplicity Asus4 x02230 A5 x02250 Dmaj7sus4 x40xx5 Intro D A G D Verses D G D / D A Asus4 A5 / Bm A D G / Dmaj7sus4 G D (additional A after the last G in Verse 1 & 5) Chorus G D G D / G D A Asus4 A5 / Bm A D G / Dmaj7sus4 G D Interlude D A G D Outro D A G A Asus4 A D [Intro] [Verse 1] Well Tulsa’s last magician got his start at four Pulled a quarter from his own ear and spun it on the floor Since there’s no good tricks but old ones and lyin’ ain’t that hard He saved up all his quarters and bought a deck of cards [Verse 2] And he learned ragtime piano, though his teacher thought him slow Got a black belt in karate from a pawn shop video And he’d practice all his worst mistakes in a dirty bathroom mirror And when his mother drank, he learned to disappear [Chorus] And his classmates thought him funny and good at sleight of hand But he had this grand finale they just couldn't understand It’s hard to tell the whole truth of a family sawed in half And that’s why Tulsa’s last magician left his home so fast [Interlude] [Verse 3] Well down and out in Reno, broke in Santa Fe Turnin’ tricks on Los Sueñeros out in Californ-i-ay They pushed him up against a wall, said "buddy get a grip" So he learned to set himself on fire on the Las Vegas strip [Verse 4] Then he wandered down to Tampa, blew everybody’s mind ‘Cause the crowd was cheap and easy there, on beer and blow and wine They said I wonder where my dollar went, how’d the flower bloom so fast He said "I can’t reveal my secret, though they rarely failed to ask" [Chorus] And the crowd all thought him funny, and good at sleight of hand But he had this grand finale they refused to understand They demanded explanation when the card pulled was their own And that’s why Tulsa’s last magician lost his faith and headed home [Interlude] [Verse 5] Well he said he’d learn computers, like his second foster dad And free-range all the rabbits that were livin’ in his hat His investments all went swimmingly, he had the cash on hidden strings His promotions were a certainty, he could make the numbers sing [Verse 6] Now time and space is easy for magic to control Still it was forty years of workin’ ‘fore he noticed he was old And now his great escaping act is just untying both his shoes And most days he’s in the easy chair, yellin’ at the news [Chorus] And the weatherman is funny and talkin’ with his hands But black clouds are comin’ in, and no one understands That somebody’s true religion’s always someone else’s joke And that’s how Tulsa’s last magician pretty much went up in smoke [Verse 7] So friend if you’re the kind that thinks no one quite gets quite what you are Like you’re cobbler or mechanic in this age of flying cars If you think that you see right behind what’s right before our eyes You might be a small town’s last magician in disguise [Chorus] And we need you to be funny, please be good at sleight of hand ‘Cause there’s a grand finale we can’t hope to understand And there’s a 1 in 52 chance it’s real magic and it’s true So won’t you please help us believe in you? [Outro]

A national treasure. We must protect this man...from major record labels.

This may be the most amazing song ever written. Goose fucking bumps.

This song is about feeling like a pariah only to find out that life doesn’t care, so you end up playing the game of life all the way to the stone. It’s a song about modern life. It’s very relatable.

Hey Willi, I don’t know you’ll even see this, but I just want to state how incredibly important and essential your music is to my life. To find artists like you, Nick and Benjamin Todd during my lifetime is literally equivalent to discovering Shakespeare living at the same time as me. Artists like you are quite literally the only reason I choose to carry on. Even if you were to never make another penny off of what you do, you should know that you are the true definition of an artist. I hold you in the same ranks that I hold Whitman and Bukowski and Hemingway. I genuinely thank you for what you do.

This man was singing from his soul. The tear rolling down his cheek proved that.❤️

Gets me every time. I'm not a cobbler or mechanic or magician even but this song speaks to something deep inside me, I don't even understand why but it brings me to tears evey time

Whoops best song ive heard in approx 20 years

This song is incredible. I’m a better person for hearing it. So very well done, sir.

yes yes yes, This is still one of my favourites. Possibly top 3, such passionate story telling. I'll listen to this with my eyes closed, the images pop up in my head and I'll let a tear fall down. Goosebumps.

"someone's true religion always someone else's joke" is the best line I've heard in a while. Song hits hard

If you ever get the chance to see this amazing storyteller live, don't miss it!

I just want to say thank you I'm crying every time I listen to this as a Young old man

Willi is one of the best story tellers in the business. Thanks Western AF for introducing him as well as Sierra Ferrel and Nick Shoulders to me!

Moved to tears. A brilliant and thoughtful song from the heart. This guy knows some things

After seeing Willi at a festival in Arkansas with my 6yo and 4yo, this is the song they request me to play most often on car rides. Move over Frozen and Hamilton, Willi is taken the wheel.

As a Fort Collins resident, I approve 100% of Mr. Carlisle and his work

I saw him in Newport this year (2023). His set was really beautiful and embodied the ethos of what folk music should be, sincere and soulful songwriting. If you can, see him live.

The upright bass is incredible

Western a f gives me the best artists

Oh Willi, MAN your a DIAMOND.... Let it shine

Many of the greatest songwriters do this - use specific stories to illustrate universal truths. Wonderful song.

This song hurts so much. New level of pain.

I have listened to this a million times and it ain't enough

holy whiskers! i am shocked! this music is so jammin 2023!!!

The higher the guitar the closer to the heart ! Love the song .

Willie, I don't think you'll ever see this, but thank you. I relate to this song more than anyone I'm close to will ever know. It's one that clings to my mind just about everyday. It really is hard to tell the whole truth of a family sawed in half, there's a side you can't ever share so you just laugh it off. I find quite a bit of your work relatable. I often think of the song angels more than I should. It's funny I also know a girl from Illinois, but more from up north. I know she'll never be mine but she really sticks to my mind.

Ya know the more I listen to this great tune, I’d also like to tip my hat to the bass player. Just perfect balanced playing and vocals. Bravo!!!!

Willi Carlisle is the best thing to happen to folk music since steel strings.

WOW. Left me speechless. This dude is absolutely one of a kind

Got me shedding tears at my desk... lol love this mans story telling. Beautiful

These words are incredible. I’ve been a fan of Willi’s for a while now and this might be his best piece to date IMO. The word play is moving and beautiful. Outstanding.

Artist like this man are the reason I keep going. There the reason I’m learning the Banjo now. Thank you so much Willi Charlie.

Wow goosebumps! The power in his lyrics and himself, one of the last real singer storytellers out there!

This song is real magic

That’s one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard.

Willi does nothing but get better and help make the world a more beautiful place.

Do you know how hard it is to cry and sing at the same time?? I do and this man is magic

It's a true poet whose words make "pain" and "beauty" the same thing. Many thanks for this amazing offering!

Bravo Willi Carlisle for writing performing and Western AF for capturing it and putting it out there in the world. This one's a heckuva magic trick-- melody, theme, movement, reflections on life. John Prine would have been proud to have written it.

A beautiful song.

Song never fails to make me cry every time.

And the awesome bass player / backing vocals are none other than.._____________ . Tulsa's last magicians best friend.. by any other name.

another willi carlisle making me cry on a friday afternoon. im not surprised

To me this kind of song writing is truly magical. It's simple and timeless and so human that it hurts

I find something new in this song every time I listen to it. Which is pretty much daily.

Willi you have to be one of the best songwriters ever

Got to see Willi open for Lost Dog and Boy Howdy! What a huge voice, and huge amount of meaning crammed into a few verses. Amazing talent!!!!!!

oh my god, that is a beautiful song

I once went to the funeral of a long forgotten about! They had a magician at the service. I remember seeing the magician hiding a coin before his performance. I don’t know why but that has always stuck with me.

GO WILLIE GO! AND IM NOT JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE I LIVE 8 MILES OUT OF GALESBURG EITHER🤣

Oh boy! That’s a raw one, I love it!

Bass player is killing it with harmony!

Crying my eyes out over here. We are so lucky to be able to hear these beautiful words strung together like that. The world needs more poets like Willi.

As someone who has a job that is losing people in it who appreciate craftsmanship and nice work. This is such an amazing song.

I am a MASSIVE John Prine fan.....these lyrics are as good as JP's. Holy shit. SItting here in Australia, tears just flowing down my face. Love ya Willi!

Best song of 2022 and one of the best songs ever cut, so so darn good

Man you give all that you have hearth and soul, what a masterpiece !!!! Bring tears to eyes, don’t let the system take you that….

Ben Tod AND Willi in a week? I'm not ready for this

Willie Carlisle's music follows my friends and I to the mountains everytime we go hiking

Got to see Willi for the first time this past weekend, and all I can say is, wow, what a show.. I haven’t laughed, yelled and almost cry, all in the same hour, of watching a set. And in the end, you could genuinely feel and tell how much it meant to him. Willi, don’t be a stranger and cmon back to the Burl. You’ve got one big family here🖤

" It Just feels nice." Yes, it does Mr. Carlisle.

This made me cry. Beautiful blessings man amen

Go on Willi! Go on!

There's something in Willi that I admire and am terrified of, it's both my motivation and hesitation to start performing myself. There's an intense, blinding level of honesty in his performance, in his words and tone and melodies, and I feel that when I sing and play. I just can't lie when I sing, and while I'm not afraid of the truth I just can't stand to let other people see how it hurts me, how I feel about things, so I'd rather lie and be silent. Or at least not have the covers pulled off so suddenly. Maybe some day I can be honest out loud like Willi, and I want to reach that point some day. I won't say it will never happen and that's good enough for now.

I don’t know how I missed this. Hell yeah! What a tune

I love anything with Tulsa in the title. Peoria Street.

Incredible songwriting

This song is so beautiful and sung so full of heart that every single time I listen to it I end up with wet eyes

Wow! Lyrics full of meaning, this guy is amazing! beautiful song.

I absolutely love how Willi puts every last drop of emotion into his music.

As a professional magician and a lover of storytelling songs, this performance hits home from many directions. So, honest, genuine, and relatable. I love everything about this song-a BIG WELL DONE to all those involved in creating this beautiful piece of art.

I keep coming back to this one. It's such a good song!

We need more real storytellers like u ! They r to far n in between now a days when we need them most !

I have hope in this world 🌍 only cause music and what a song can do to a person . I thank you to the waf squad I hope to make it there . Heck maybe my name will come up on that phone screen one day .

Mike McClure sent me here and I am glad that he did. Nice song and story.

Did this make anyone else cry

Wow. What a tune

Wow. Outstanding, Willie. Thank you. "But black clouds are coming in and no one understands." Heartbreakingly perfect.

Man how did you write a song about my life???😶😶😶🥲

When i first started listening to this song it started to draw me in and by the middle i was in tears. This is an amazing song and even more so its beautiful music.

some of the lines in this are very close to home..Another Brilliant song from our Willi Carlisle.

The magic of this song didn’t hit me until second listen; now I’m in tears 🥲

By far one of the best songs I have ever heard

Man. That’s Was touching. Amen to yhat

Some of my best memories are seeing Willi play in Arkansas at weird secret shows at the DIY venue and having drunken conversations at various locales, so happy to see him doing what he loves.

I'm definitely not crying alone in my garage.

Tears rolling down my face and chin trembling, what a song.

I ain't had a song give my heart this feeling since I listened to "roses for momma" for the first time and now I can't stop listening to this song I'm truly a fan of your masterpiece

Chills the whole time. Such relatable lyrics with beautiful and haunting imagery. Willi writes like a poet.

Listen to this almost every day, still cry and the lyrics fit so will with my friend (bartender and magician) thanks Willi Carlisle.

Currently one of my favourite songs