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Rye Whiskey

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Eminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
C  Em  D  G
C  Em  D
[Verse 1]
In an Gold folks home Cjust off the Gwell beaten Dpath
I Emvisit my Cgrandma and Dlearn of our Cpast
One Gday as I Cwalked down the Dhall I passed Emby
An Aold man with tears in his Deyes
At a Gglance I could Csee he was Ggentle and Dsweet
I Emstraightened his Cpillow and Dcovered his Cfeet
Then the Gold man reached Cout softly Dtouching my Emhand
He Csmiled and these Dfew words beGganC  
[Chorus]
If I Gdon’t drink rye Cwhiskey, rye Gwhiskey I’ll Ddie
I could Emsee it meant Csomething by the Dlook in his Geyes
The Gold man just Clay there reDpeating that Emline
If I Cdon’t drink rye Gwhiskey, rye Dwhiskey I’ll Gdie
[Interlude]
C  Em  D
[Verse 2]
Then they Gtold me a Cstory that’s Gsad but it’s Dtrue
Of Emhow he’d no Cfamily or Dfriends that they Cknew
In an Gold army Cjacket on the Doutskirts of Emtown
AThat’s how the old man was Dfound
They Gthought him a Cdrunkard who Gjust lost his Dmind
‘Cause Emall he would Csay were these Dwords all the Ctime
They Gbrought him here Cten years aDgo to this Emday
CStill all the Dold man would Gsay
[Chorus]
If I Gdon’t drink rye Cwhiskey, rye Gwhiskey I’ll Ddie
I could Emsee it meant Csomething by the Dlook in his Geye
The Gold man just Clay there reDpeating that Emline
If I Cdon’t drink rye Gwhiskey, rye Dwhiskey I’ll Gdie
[Interlude]
C  Em  D
G  C  Em  D
[Verse 3]
When I Gwalked in the Croom grandma Ginstantly Dknew
She Emsaid my dear Cboy what’s been Dbothering Cyou
So I Gtold her the Cstory of the Dman I just Emmet
AGrandma looked up and she Dsaid
[Bridge]
If I Gdon’t drink rye Cwhiskey were the Gwords to a Dsong
I Csang back when DI was a Ckid
And it Gtold of a Csolder who Dmade it through Emwar
And Cfound out his Dtrue love was Gdead
[Chorus]
If I Gdon’t drink rye Cwhiskey, rye Gwhiskey I’ll Ddie
I Emknew it meant Csomething by the Dlook in his Geyes
Now I Gknow why the Cold man just Dlaid there and Emcried
If I Cdon’t drink rye Gwhiskey, rye Dwhiskey I’ll Gdie
His Gheart was still Cbreaking after Dall of this Emtime
If I Cdon’t drink rye Gwhiskey, rye Dwhiskey I’ll GdieD  G  

All chords in this song (5)

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Rye Whiskey

by Ronnie Bowman

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

C Em D G

C Em D

[Verse 1]

G C G D

In an old folks home just off the well beaten path

Em C D C

I visit my grandma and learn of our past

G C D Em

One day as I walked down the hall I passed by

A D

An old man with tears in his eyes

G C G D

At a glance I could see he was gentle and sweet

Em C D C

I straightened his pillow and covered his feet

G C D Em

Then the old man reached out softly touching my hand

C D G C

He smiled and these few words began

[Chorus]

G C G D

If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die

Em C D G

I could see it meant something by the look in his eyes

G C D Em

The old man just lay there repeating that line

C G D G

If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die

[Interlude]

C Em D

[Verse 2]

G C G D

Then they told me a story that’s sad but it’s true

Em C D C

Of how he’d no family or friends that they knew

G C D Em

In an old army jacket on the outskirts of town

A D

That’s how the old man was found

G C G D

They thought him a drunkard who just lost his mind

Em C D C

‘Cause all he would say were these words all the time

G C D Em

They brought him here ten years ago to this day

C D G

Still all the old man would say

[Chorus]

G C G D

If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die

Em C D G

I could see it meant something by the look in his eye

G C D Em

The old man just lay there repeating that line

C G D G

If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die

[Interlude]

C Em D

G C Em D

[Verse 3]

G C G D

When I walked in the room grandma instantly knew

Em C D C

She said my dear boy what’s been bothering you

G C D Em

So I told her the story of the man I just met

A D

Grandma looked up and she said

[Bridge]

G C G D

If I don’t drink rye whiskey were the words to a song

C D C

I sang back when I was a kid

G C D Em

And it told of a solder who made it through war

C D G

And found out his true love was dead

[Chorus]

G C G D

If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die

Em C D G

I knew it meant something by the look in his eyes

G C D Em

Now I know why the old man just laid there and cried

C G D G

If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die

G C D Em

His heart was still breaking after all of this time

C G D G D G

If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die

About Rye Whiskey Chords by Ronnie Bowman

Learn how to play Rye Whiskey by Ronnie Bowman with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Rye Whiskey chords”, “Rye Whiskey guitar chords”, or “Ronnie Bowman Rye Whiskey 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 Rye Whiskey chords and for experienced players who want accurate Rye Whiskey lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Em, D, G, A.

FAQ — Rye Whiskey by Ronnie Bowman

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What key is "Rye Whiskey" in?

The chords for "Rye Whiskey" show the original chord names (including C, Em, D, G, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.