Willie Nelson sang the same song to Darrell Royal three times. The first two times, he sang it to help a grieving father. The third time, the coach was gone.
The song was “Healing Hands of Time,” and it was Darrell Royal’s favorite. For nearly 40 years, it followed the two men through the worst days of Royal’s life, and finally through the last goodbye.
The Coach and the Outlaw
On paper, they made no sense together. Darrell Royal was the most successful coach in Texas Longhorns history. He was hired at 32, coached 20 seasons, never had a losing year and won national championships in 1963 and 1969, plus a share of a third in 1970. He ran a tight program built on clean-cut young men.
Willie Nelson was the long-haired songwriter who would soon become the face of outlaw country. A lot of people around the University of Texas raised their eyebrows at the friendship.
But Royal had grown up in Oklahoma during the Great Depression, and he loved heartbreak songs. He listened closely to lyrics. Friends called him a words man. When he heard Willie’s songwriting, he knew it was something special.
Royal became a full-fledged Willie fan in 1967, years before most of America caught on. That year Willie handed him a copy of his new album, The Party’s Over, and signed it: “To Darrell Royal, one of country music’s best friends.”
Royal proved it. In 1971, Willie’s house near Nashville burned down, and his band was off the road with no work. Royal put together a private Willie Nelson concert in Austin to raise money to pay the band. The show sold out. And when Willie sang, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. At Royal’s gatherings, people knew the rule: when a man is singing, you listen.
A Song When There Were No Words
In 1973, Darrell and Edith Royal lost their daughter, Marian.
Willie drove to their house to be with them. He wanted to comfort his friends, but he couldn’t find anything to say. So he did the one thing he knew how to do. He picked up his guitar and sang “Healing Hands of Time.”
Nine years later, grief came to the Royals again. Their son David, a musician, was killed in a motorcycle accident.
Once more, Willie showed up. Once more, he sang “Healing Hands of Time” for Darrell and Edith.
The comfort went both ways. When Willie lost his oldest son, Billy, on Christmas Day 1991, Darrell Royal did his best to be there for him.
Fifty Years of Friendship
Royal retired from coaching in 1976, but the friendship never slowed down. In time, the same university officials who had frowned at it came to Royal asking if he could get Willie’s autograph for them. Royal reportedly hid a satisfied smile.
Many people in Austin credit the two men with helping make the city what it became. Royal gave Willie a welcome with the conservative football crowd. Willie brought all kinds of people together under one roof.
The Third Time
Darrell Royal died in Austin on November 7, 2012. He was 88. He was buried in a private service at the Texas State Cemetery.
The next day, Texas said goodbye in public at the Frank Erwin Center. More than 200 of his former players came, including Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell. Old rivals came too, among them Frank Broyles of Arkansas and Barry Switzer of Oklahoma. Edith, his wife of 67 years, sat with the family.
Western singer Red Steagall introduced the music, remembering how much Royal loved songs, songwriting and picking.
Then Willie Nelson, his friend of 50 years, stood up with his guitar. He sang “Healing Hands of Time.” It was the same song he had sung in the Royals’ living room in 1973, and again nine years later. Now he sang it for Darrell himself.
To close the service, the Longhorn Band played “The Eyes of Texas.” Edith Royal stood, holding the flag in one hand and raising the other in the Hook ’em Horns salute.
Some friendships are built on what two people have in common. This one was built on a song, and on a man who always showed up to sing it.