(Laurie Hyde-Smith)
Me and Willie played in a country band
Seven long years I guess playing those one night stands
Used to say the booze and bars were gonna wear him out
Oh lord, the songs he wrote tear your heart right out
Travelled the northern route from the great lakes to Montreal
Hittin' all the honky-tonks, bet we played 'em all
Willie played to ease his soul and drank to ease his mind
I never understood how he played so good while drinking himself half blind
And you wouldn't think a man so weak could be so strong
Take a crowd of rowdy drunks, hush 'em with a song
And I'd rather be singing my heart out in a dark and dingy bar
Hitting those high notes to Willie's sad guitar
And I'd rather be singing a blues song singing sweet and high
Willie standing right by my side playing country style
Me and Wille, oh we watched a lot of dreams die young
Plans we made how quick they fade, tumbled one by one
Willie never let it bother him and if it did, well it didn't show
No he had a way of letting go, make the blue time go
And you wouldn't think a man so weak could be so strong
Take the blues right out of you and put 'em in a song
And I'd rather be singing my heart out in a dark and dingy bar
Hittin' those high notes to Willie's sad guitar
And I'd rather be singing a blues song, singing sweet and high
Wille standing right by my side playing country style
I left Willie in a bar in Mariette
Couldn't stand to watch the man I love drink himself to death
Now I'm working Ottawa and I'm doing well I guess
But you know the good life doesn't look so good from behind a desk
And I'd rather be singing my heart out in a dark and dingy bar
Hitting those high notes to Willie's sad guitar
And I'd rather be singing a blues song singing sweet and high
Willie standing right by my side playing country style
Me and Willie played in a country band
Seven long years I guess playing those one night stands
Used to say the booze and bars were gonna wear him out
Oh lord, the songs he wrote tear your heart right out
Travelled the northern route from the great lakes to Montreal
Hittin' all the honky-tonks, bet we played 'em all
Willie played to ease his soul and drank to ease his mind
I never understood how he played so good while drinking himself half blind
And you wouldn't think a man so weak could be so strong
Take a crowd of rowdy drunks, hush 'em with a song
And I'd rather be singing my heart out in a dark and dingy bar
Hitting those high notes to Willie's sad guitar
And I'd rather be singing a blues song singing sweet and high
Willie standing right by my side playing country style
Me and Wille, oh we watched a lot of dreams die young
Plans we made how quick they fade, tumbled one by one
Willie never let it bother him and if it did, well it didn't show
No he had a way of letting go, make the blue time go
And you wouldn't think a man so weak could be so strong
Take the blues right out of you and put 'em in a song
And I'd rather be singing my heart out in a dark and dingy bar
Hittin' those high notes to Willie's sad guitar
And I'd rather be singing a blues song, singing sweet and high
Wille standing right by my side playing country style
I left Willie in a bar in Mariette
Couldn't stand to watch the man I love drink himself to death
Now I'm working Ottawa and I'm doing well I guess
But you know the good life doesn't look so good from behind a desk
And I'd rather be singing my heart out in a dark and dingy bar
Hitting those high notes to Willie's sad guitar
And I'd rather be singing a blues song singing sweet and high
Willie standing right by my side playing country style