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 Alison Krauss on guitar
Intro:
- Begin with a soft, picking pattern on Bm and G chords.
Verse 1:
- The verse starts with D to G transitioning smoothly into Bm.
Strumming Pattern: Use a gentle down-up pattern, emphasizing
the emotional tone of the lyrics.
- Change from Bm to A, and D, maintaining a soft strum.
- Common Mistake: Avoid rushing the tempo; keep it slow and
reflective to match the song's somber mood.
Chorus:
- Transition to the chorus with D, G, and A, then flow into Bm.
Strum more firmly here to bring out the depth of the story.
- Move from Bm to A to G, portraying the narrative's progression.
- The shift back to D and A should be smooth, emphasizing the
lyrical theme of despair.
- Finish the chorus with the poignant line returning to G and Bm.
Bridge:
- The bridge utilizes similar chords but focuses on the storytelling.
Maintain a consistent strumming pattern to keep the listener engaged.
Outro:
- Repeat the line with Bm to G several times.
Here, you can slightly increase your strumming intensity to
conclude on an emotionally strong note.
General Tips:
- Tuning: Standard tuning works best for this song.
- Tone: Aim for a clean, acoustic tone to preserve the emotional
impact of the song.
- Practice the transitions between chords slowly and increase
your speed as you get more comfortable.
Song Meaning:
- "Whiskey Lullaby" tells the tragic tale of two people who loved
deeply and turned to whiskey to cope with their heartbreak, ultimately
leading to their demise. The lyrics paint a haunting picture of love,
loss, and regret.
|