D
I was lost in trouble and strife
          G
I heard a voice and it changed my life
D                       
Now it's a brand new day 
      A
and I ain't afraid to say
           D
You're not alone when you're down and out
      G
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 ]

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


[ VERSE 2 ]

D
Well long ago he came unto us,
G
his words were simple but they went right through us 
        D
and the whole world sang along
              A
but then they didn't want to hear his songs.
       D
He was gone and we thought we'd lost him 
       G
but he grew his hair and he moved to Austin,
    D
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 
      D
stood together and raised a brew
          A              G          A
When it's all gone wrong what would Willie do?


[ BRIDGE ]

D
You know sometimes I wonder when I ain't getting nowhere
     G
just 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
                      D
Well he'd just take a deep breath and then he'd let it all go,
G
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.
                           D
Aaah and I'd bet he'd feel hungry in a way that seems strange, 
     G
yeah hungry for all the things that he just can't change. 
D 
Like the time he passed out in his own bedroom
                                     A
and his wife sewed him up the sheets and beat him with a broom and he forgave her
D 
And you think that's rough
                                G
well then the IRS came and they took away all of his stuff
                                         D
They took his golf course, his recording studio 
                                     A
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 ]

D
What would Willie do well he'd take a little time
    G
and talk to old Rooster as he'd drive on down the line
            D
and there's millions down that road
           A
and with a word he's gonna lighten their load
         D
He loves all the people no matter their races,
        G
hell he even had a hit country song with Julio Iglesias
    D
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?