Don Williams – Tulsa Time (Live Farewell): A Final, Comforting Embrace from the Gentle Giant
There are songs, and then there are moments. For those of us who grew up with the smooth, comforting baritone of Don Williams as the soundtrack to our lives—a voice like a warm blanket on a cool evening—the live farewell rendition of “Tulsa Time” is undoubtedly one of those profound, bittersweet moments. It represents more than just a performance; it is a final, tender handshake from the “Gentle Giant” of country music, a beautiful echo of his enduring legacy on the very stage he was quietly stepping away from.
The song, penned by his band member Danny Flowers, was first released by Don Williams in October 1978 as the lead single from his album Expressions. The original studio recording became an immediate classic, soaring to Number 1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. This commercial success was swiftly followed by recognition, with the track being named “Single Record of the Year” in 1979 by the Academy of Country Music, and contributing to Williams winning the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year award.
But it is the live farewell performance from his 2016 tour that truly resonates now. This tour, his “Farewell Tour,” was his quiet nod to the end of a remarkable era, a deliberate step away from the spotlight he had graciously occupied for decades. He officially announced his retirement in March 2016, stating with characteristic humility: “It’s time to hang my hat up and enjoy some quiet time at home. I’m so thankful for my fans, my friends, and my family for their everlasting love and support.” Knowing this context makes every note of that final performance heavy with reflection and deep gratitude.
The simple, driving rhythm of “Tulsa Time” has always carried a powerful, relatable message—the universal yearning for a return to simpler times and a place where one feels truly at home. The song tells the story of someone caught up in the frenetic, disappointing pace of Hollywood, only to realize the real contentment lies in setting their watch back to “Tulsa time,” a metaphor for reclaiming one’s peace and authentic self. “Well you know I’ve been through it when I set my watch back to it, livin’ on Tulsa time.” These lines, sung by the Gentle Giant in his twilight stage moments, take on an almost prophetic weight. He was a man who preferred “peace over applause,” and this song, in its final live airing, perfectly encapsulated his own journey—from the world’s stage back to the quiet solace of family and home.
For those of us who have lived long enough to watch our own clocks tick by, seeing a beloved figure like Don Williams choose his own ending—a quiet, graceful exit—is deeply moving. His music, particularly a track like “Tulsa Time,” never sought flash or controversy. It was honest, heartfelt, and as comfortable as an old pair of shoes. In that last stage rendition, his voice, perhaps a little weathered by time but still as rich and warm as a Texas sunset, becomes a vessel carrying our shared memories of a better, less complicated time. It’s not just a song about a city; it’s a song about repose, about finding where you belong, and for Don Williams, that was the greatest, most truthful final statement an artist could make. It reminds us all that true legacy isn’t measured in noise, but in the enduring, quiet impact of a gentle soul.