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What Would Willie Do

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Dmajor

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[ VERSE 1 ]
I was Dlost in trouble and strife
I heard a Gvoice and it changed my life
DNow it's a brand new day 
and I Aain't afraid to say
You're not Dalone when you're down and out
and I Gthink you know who I'm talking about
When I don't know how I'll get through 
I Aask myself GWhat would AWillie Ddo? 
[ CHORUS 1 ]
DWhat would Willie do, well he'd travel so far 
with Gnothing but a song and his old guitar
And a Dtour bus and some semi-trucks, 
Thirty Acrew men and a little bit of luck
Well he loves Aall the people, the ugly and the randy
Gif you don't believe me take a look at the family 
and they'll Dtell you that it's true
When skies are gray Gwhat would AWillie Ddo?
[ VERSE 2 ]
DWell long ago he came unto us,
Ghis words were simple but they went right through us 
and the Dwhole world sang along
but then they Adidn't want to hear his songs.
He was Dgone and we thought we'd lost him 
but he Ggrew his hair and he moved to Austin,
and Dall of the people smiled,
they came to hear him sing from miles.
Like a Gmiracle all those Arednecks and hippies
from DNew York city down to GMississippi 
stood Dtogether and raised a brew
When it's Aall gone wrong Gwhat would AWillie do?
[ BRIDGE ]
DYou know sometimes I wonder when I ain't getting nowhere
just Gwhat would old Willie do when it all gets too much to bear
DI can see him on his lonely old tour bus
Ahe's got problems just like any of us
Well he'd just take a Ddeep breath and then he'd let it all go,
Gthen he'd take another deep breath and let it all go,
and Dhe'd take another deep breath and he'd Ahold it.
Aaah and I'd bet he'd feel Dhungry in a way that seems strange, 
yeah Ghungry for all the things that he just can't change. 
DLike the time he passed out in his own bedroom
and his wife sewed him up the sheets Aand beat him with a broom and he forgave her
DAnd you think that's rough
well then the IRS came and they Gtook away all of his stuff
They took his golf course, his recording Dstudio 
and he just went out and did another Ashow
So when it's Gall coming down on Ayou
better Gask yourself Gwhat would AWillie Ddo?
[ CHORUS 2 ]
DWhat would Willie do well he'd take a little time
and Gtalk to old Rooster as he'd drive on down the line
and there's Dmillions down that road
and with a Aword he's gonna lighten their load
He loves Dall the people no matter their races,
hell he Geven had a hit country song with Julio Iglesias
and Dthat ain't easy to do
So when it's Aall too much Gwhat would Willie
when the Dgame gets tough what would AWillie
when they Dcall your bluff Gwhat would AWillie Ddo?

All chords in this song (3)

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What Would Willie Do

by Gary Allan

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[ VERSE 1 ]

I was lost in trouble and strife

I heard a voice and it changed my life

Now it's a brand new day

and I ain't afraid to say

You're not alone when you're down and out

and I think you know who I'm talking about

When I don't know how I'll get through

A G A D

I ask myself What would Willie do?

[ CHORUS 1 ]

What would Willie do, well he'd travel so far

with nothing but a song and his old guitar

And a tour bus and some semi-trucks,

Thirty crew men and a little bit of luck

Well he loves all the people, the ugly and the randy

if you don't believe me take a look at the family

and they'll tell you that it's true

G A D

When skies are gray what would Willie do?

[ VERSE 2 ]

Well long ago he came unto us,

his words were simple but they went right through us

and the whole world sang along

but then they didn't want to hear his songs.

He was gone and we thought we'd lost him

but he grew his hair and he moved to Austin,

and all of the people smiled,

they came to hear him sing from miles.

G A

Like a miracle all those rednecks and hippies

D G

from New York city down to Mississippi

stood together and raised a brew

A G A

When it's all gone wrong what would Willie do?

[ BRIDGE ]

You know sometimes I wonder when I ain't getting nowhere

just what would old Willie do when it all gets too much to bear

I can see him on his lonely old tour bus

he's got problems just like any of us

Well he'd just take a deep breath and then he'd let it all go,

then he'd take another deep breath and let it all go,

D A

and he'd take another deep breath and he'd hold it.

Aaah and I'd bet he'd feel hungry in a way that seems strange,

yeah hungry for all the things that he just can't change.

Like the time he passed out in his own bedroom

and his wife sewed him up the sheets and beat him with a broom and he forgave her

And you think that's rough

well then the IRS came and they took away all of his stuff

They took his golf course, his recording studio

and he just went out and did another show

G A

So when it's all coming down on you

G G A D

better ask yourself what would Willie do?

[ CHORUS 2 ]

What would Willie do well he'd take a little time

and talk to old Rooster as he'd drive on down the line

and there's millions down that road

and with a word he's gonna lighten their load

He loves all the people no matter their races,

hell he even had a hit country song with Julio Iglesias

and that ain't easy to do

A G

So when it's all too much what would Willie

D A

when the game gets tough what would Willie

D G A D

when they call your bluff what would Willie do?

About What Would Willie Do Chords by Gary Allan

Learn how to play What Would Willie Do by Gary Allan with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “What Would Willie Do chords”, “What Would Willie Do guitar chords”, or “Gary Allan What Would Willie Do chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy What Would Willie Do chords and for experienced players who want accurate What Would Willie Do lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, G, A.

FAQ — What Would Willie Do by Gary Allan

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