[Intro]
C Em D G
C Em D
[Verse 1]
G C G D
In an old folks home just off the well beaten path
Em C D C
I visit my grandma and learn of our past
G C D Em
One day as I walked down the hall I passed by
A D
An old man with tears in his eyes
G C G D
At a glance I could see he was gentle and sweet
Em C D C
I straightened his pillow and covered his feet
G C D Em
Then the old man reached out softly touching my hand
C D G C
He smiled and these few words began
[Chorus]
G C G D
If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die
Em C D G
I could see it meant something by the look in his eyes
G C D Em
The old man just lay there repeating that line
C G D G
If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die
[Interlude]
C Em D
[Verse 2]
G C G D
Then they told me a story that’s sad but it’s true
Em C D C
Of how he’d no family or friends that they knew
G C D Em
In an old army jacket on the outskirts of town
A D
That’s how the old man was found
G C G D
They thought him a drunkard who just lost his mind
Em C D C
‘Cause all he would say were these words all the time
G C D Em
They brought him here ten years ago to this day
C D G
Still all the old man would say
[Chorus]
G C G D
If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die
Em C D G
I could see it meant something by the look in his eye
G C D Em
The old man just lay there repeating that line
C G D G
If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die
[Interlude]
C Em D
G C Em D
[Verse 3]
G C G D
When I walked in the room grandma instantly knew
Em C D C
She said my dear boy what’s been bothering you
G C D Em
So I told her the story of the man I just met
A D
Grandma looked up and she said
[Bridge]
G C G D
If I don’t drink rye whiskey were the words to a song
C D C
I sang back when I was a kid
G C D Em
And it told of a solder who made it through war
C D G
And found out his true love was dead
[Chorus]
G C G D
If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die
Em C D G
I knew it meant something by the look in his eyes
G C D Em
Now I know why the old man just laid there and cried
C G D G
If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die
G C D Em
His heart was still breaking after all of this time
C G D G D G
If I don’t drink rye whiskey, rye whiskey I’ll die