What Would Willie Do

Bruce Robison

I was lost in trouble and strife, I heard a voice and it changed my life 
And now it's a brand new day, and I ain't afraid to say 
You're not alone when you're down and out 
And I think you know who I'm talking about 
When I don't know how I'll get through 
I ask myself what would Willie do 

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

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

You know sometimes I wonder when I ain't gettin' nowhere 
What would old Willie do when it all gets too much to bear 
And I can see him on his lonely old tour bus 
And he's got his problems just like any of us 
Well he'd just take a deep breath and then he'd let it all go 
And he'd take another deep breath and let it all go 
And he'd take another deep breath...and he'd hold it 

Ah and I bet he'd feel hungry in a way that seems strange 
Yeah hungry for all the things that he just can't change 
Like the time he passed out in is own bedroom 
And his wife sewed him up in the sheets and beat him with a broom and he forgave her 
And you think that's rough, well then the IRS came and they took away all of his stuff 
They took his golf course and his recording studio, and he just went out and did another show 
So when it's all coming down on you 
You better ask yourself what would Willie do 

What would Willie do, well he'd take a little time 
And talk to old roosters as he'd drive on down the line 
And there's millions down that road, and with a word he's gonna lighten their load 
He loves all the people no matter their races 
Hell he even had a hit country song with Julio Iglesias 
And that ain't easy to do, so when it's all too much, what would Willie 
When the game gets tough what would Willie 
When they call your bluff what would Willie do