Me and Willie played in a country band
Seven long years together playing those one-night stands
Used to say the booze and bars were going to wear him out
"Hold On", a song he wrote'll tear your heart right out

We traveled the northern route from the Great Lakes to Montreal
Hitting all the honkytonks, I bet we played them 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

[Pre-Chorus]
And you wouldn't think a man so weak could be so strong
Take a crowd of rowdy drunks, hush them with a song

[Chorus]
I'd rather be singing my heart out in a dark and dingy bar
Hitting those high notes with 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 slide

[Verse 3]
Me and Willie, oh we watched a lot of dreams die young
Plans we made, how quick they fade, fumbling one by one
Willie never let it bother him and if he did, well it didn't show
You know he had a way of letting go, making the blue turn gold
[Pre-Chorus]
And you wouldn't think a man so weak could be so strong
Taking the blues right out of you and put them in a song

[Chorus]
I'd rather be singing my heart out in a dark and dingy bar
Hitting those high notes with 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 slide

[Verse 4]
I left Willie in a bar in Marietta
Couldn't stand to watch the man I love drink himself to death
Now I'm working in Ottawa and I'm doing well, I guess
You know the good life don't look so good from behind a desk

[Chorus]
And I'd rather be singing my heart out in a dark and dingy bar
Hitting those high notes with Willie's sad guitar
I'd rather be singing a blues song, singing sweet and high
Willie standing right by my side playing country slide