“Farewell Party” is a song by lyricist Lawton Williams. Lawton, originally, made the very first recording of the track in 1960. After a year (1961), Little Jimmy Dickens covered the same tune. Apart from the aforementioned artists, American country musicians Johnny Bush and Gene Watson made their own versions. The last was Alan Jackson who put “Farewell Party” on his Under the Influence album.

You’ll be free at the end of my farewell party
But I’ll go away loving you

In February 1979, Capitol released Gene Watson’s cover as the second single from the album Reflections. The song occupied the 5th spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Even though it was not able to make it to the top of the charts, “Farewell Party”, as many consider, is Watsons’ signature song. In addition, it is the most popular version. Funny enough, he even named his band Farewell Party Band.

Every one of Gene’s major hits is in this collection. His signature song “Farewell Party” was not left out. One time, Gene Watson said that he had been singing the song in clubs for several years.

He admitted that he got the impression that nobody wanted him to record the song because they thought the track was too sad. However, it was a song he had in his mind that he had to record.

Gene Watson knew how live audiences reacted to it, and it was simply phenomenal.

Most people, no matter how happy they try to act or appear, have had this kind of loneliness.

According to Gene, the song just seemed to have the power to get inside people’s hearts and just tear at them.
He saw that when he performed it.

“Farewell Party” had all the qualities to dig deep into the people’s hearts and souls—something they can never forget.

Shockingly, Watson’s classic tune may not have been a hit if he had not had some extra time left in the recording studio.

Gene vividly remembered that they had 20 minutes left at the end of the session so, he thought that he would give the song a run.

On the original recording he did it in one take.

In 2002, Gene Watson became an inductee into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. Also, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Houston Music Hall of Fame in August 2013.