Intro: Bm G
D G Bm
She put him out like the burning end of a midnight cigarette
A D G A
She broke his heart he spent his whole life trying to forget
Bm A D
We watched him drink his pain away a little at a time
Bm A D
But he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind
A
Until tonight...
D G A
He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger
Bm A G
And finally drank away her memory
D A
Life is short but this time it was bigger
Bm A G
Than the strength he had to get up off his knees
D A
They found him with his face down in the pillow
Bm A G
With a note that said I'll love her til I die
D A
And when we buried him beneath the willow
G Bm
The angel's sang a whiskey lullaby
Bm G
La la la la la la la, La la la la la la la
Bm G
La la la la la la la, La la la la la la la
D G Bm
The rumors flew but nobody knew how much she blamed herself
A D G A
For years and years she tried to hide the whiskey on her breath
Bm A D
She finally drank her pain away a little at a time
Bm A D
But she never could get drunk enough to get him off her mind
A
Until the night...
D G A
She put that bottle to her head and pulled the trigger
Bm A G
And finally drank away his memory
D A
Life is short but this time it was bigger
Bm A G
Than the strength she had to get up off her knees
D A
We found her with her face down in the pillow
Bm A G
Clinging to his picture for dear life
D A
We laid her next to him beneath the willow
G Bm
While angel's sang a whiskey lullaby
Bm G Bm G
La la la la la la la, La la la la la la la
How to play "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley on guitar
Intro & Verse Chord Progression:
- Start with a somber Bm and G to set the tone for the song's melancholic theme.
- Transition into D and G to introduce the verse, and then move to Bm and A for
emotional depth.
Playing the Chords:
- Bm: Barre the 2nd fret from A to high E, place your middle on 3rd fret B,
ring on 4th fret D, and pinky on 4th fret G.
- G major: Index on 2nd fret A, middle on 3rd fret low E, and ring on 3rd fret high E.
- D major: Index on 2nd fret G, ring on 3rd fret B, and middle on 2nd fret high E.
- A major: Index on 2nd fret D, middle on 2nd fret G, and ring on 2nd fret B.
Strumming Pattern:
- Use a slow, steady strumming pattern with a focus on downstrokes to reflect the
heavy, emotional content of the song. Include slight pauses after each chord
change to let the lyrics resonate.
Chorus Dynamics:
- Increase the dynamic intensity in the chorus, maintaining the chord progression
of D, G, A, and then Bm, A, G, highlighting the tragic narrative.
- This part of the song is critical for conveying the emotional climax of both
characters' stories.
Common Mistakes:
- Pay careful attention to the transition between Bm and G, as maintaining the
melancholic mood is crucial. Ensure these chords are not rushed.
- During the la la la section, keep the strumming light and refrain from
overpowering the haunting melody that acts as an outro.
Outro:
- Repeat the Bm to G progression with the "La la la" vocal line, creating a
haunting echo effect to end the song.
Song's Theme:
- The song narrates a heartbreaking tale of love, loss, and regret, using the
imagery of whiskey as a destructive but seductive escape from pain.
Regular practice focusing on emotional expression through strumming and transitions
will help you deliver a moving performance of "Whiskey Lullaby."
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