Willie Got There First (feat. Seth Avett & Scott Avett)

Well it struck me how cold the rain was
But I didn't look for cover at all
I just stood there face to face with my love
Watching her teardrops fall

And as sad as it was, her blue eyes inspired me
And switched on a light in my mind
And when she was gone, I wrote down a song
To claim the moment as mine

But Willie got there first
Put heartache and heartbreak into a verse
Like an alchemist turning his sorrow to gold
Lyrics like mapsfor a soul
Eloquent truth in a common man's words
I had such a good idea for a song
But Willie got there first

Well the phases and stages of life they were changing
And I was sure changing too
Rivers of whiskey and bloody Mary mornings
Were causing my plans to fall through

But when I was down, I met me an angel
Flying too close to the ground
We rose up together, the victory moved me
To make a musical sound

But Willie got there first
Put falling in love to a beautiful verse
Like the brushstrokes of a renaissance master so bold
Still lifes of coal, black and gold
Breathtaking countryside, landscapes of words
I had such a good idea for a song
But Willie got there first

The rhymes were already written
The rhythm laid down by the band
The melodies already been brought to life by the piano player's right hand
Bobbie, play it pretty. Lead that harp solo in,
And Mickey take us home one more time
Then let's get on the road again

Well I'm crazy for feeling so lonely
With my family and so many friends
I know how it is with life as with love
When one ends, another begins

Look, well you must be tougher than leather
But tender as a babe in a manger
Let's lift up a glass of yesterday's wine
And cheers to the red headed stranger

Cause Willie got there first
Fit God and the devil into the same verse
Like a preacher man letting his sermon unfold
A tune like a cure for the soul
The truth in a cowboy's words I had such a good idea for a song
But Willie got there first

Willie got there first