Gary Allan
“What Would Willie Do?”  written by Bruce Robison

Album: Alright Guy

capo on 4th fret

I was (D) lost in trouble and strife.  I heard a (G)
voice and it changed my life. (D) Now it’s a brand new
day and I (A) ain’t afraid to say.  You’re not (D)
alone when you’re down & out and I (G) think you know
who I’m talking about.  When I don’t know how I’ll get
through I (A) ask myself (G) what would (A) Willie (D)
do? 

(D) What would Willie do, well he’d travel so far with
(G) nothing but a song and his old guitar.  And a (D)
tour bus and some semi-trucks, thirty (A) crew men and
a little bit of luck.  Well he loves (A) all the
people, the ugly and the randy (G) if you don’t
believe me take a look at the family and they’ll (D)
tell you that it’s true.  When skies are gray (G) what
would (A) Willie (D) do?

(D) Well long ago he came unto us, (G) his words were
simple but they went right through us and the (D)
whole world sang along but then they (A) didn’t want
to hear his songs.  He was (D) gone and we thought
we’d lost him but he (G) grew his hair and he moved to
Austin, and (D) all of the people smiled, they came to
hear him sing from miles.  Like a (G) miracle all
those (A) rednecks & hippies from (D) New York city
down to (G) Mississippi stood (D) together and raised
a brew.  When it’s (A) all gone wrong (G) what would
(A) Willie do?

(D) You know sometimes I wonder when I ain’t getting
nowhere just (G) what would old Willie do when it all
gets too much to bear.  (D) I can see him on his
lonely old tour bus (A) he’s got problems just like
any of us.  Well he’d just take a (D) deep breath and
then he’d let it all go, (G) then he’d take another
deep breath and let it all go, and (D) he’d take
another deep breath and he’d (A) hold it.  Aaah and
I’d bet he’d feel (D) hungry in a way that seems
strange, yeah (G) hungry for all the things that he
just can’t change.  (D) Like the time he passed out in
his own bedroom and his wife sewed him up the sheets
(A) and beat him with a broom and he forgave her.  (D)
And you think that’s rough well then the IRS came and
they (G) took away all of his stuff.  They took his
golf course, his recording (D) studio and he just went
out and did another (A) show.

So when it’s (G) all coming down on (A) you better (G)
ask yourself (G) what would (A) Willie (D) do?  (D)
What would Willie do well he’d take a little time and
(G) talk to old Rooster as he’d drive on down the line
and there’s (D) millions down that road and with a (A)
word he’s gonna lighten their load.  He loves (D) all
the people no matter their races, hell he (G) even had
a hit country song with Julio Iglesias and (D) that
ain’t easy to do.  So when it’s (A) all too much (G)
what would Willie. . .when the (D) game gets tough
what would (A) Willie. . .when they (D) call your
bluff (G) what would (A) Willie (D) do?