Gary Allan Herzberg (born December 5, 1967) is an American country music ar… Read Full Bio ↴Gary Allan Herzberg (born December 5, 1967) is an American country music artist, known professionally as Gary Allan.

Allan was born and raised in La Mirada, California, to Harley and Mary Herzberg. To ensure that the family would focus on music, Allan's mother insisted that the family's guitars would always remain visible in the home. At age thirteen, Allan began playing in honky tonks with his father. Two years later, he was offered his first recording contract, from A&M Records, but rejected the deal. His parents wanted him to finish his education and his father felt that Allan had yet to develop his own distinctive style. Despite his commitment to finishing school, Allan reflects that he was rarely alert in class. "I played the bars at night, I was half asleep when I got to school. I thought sleep was what you did when you got to school." After finishing school, he continued to play in the bars with his band, the Honky Tonk Wranglers. Many of the venues they played were packed, and promoters often tried to move them to larger clubs. The moves would have required him to stop playing some of the older country music, such as covers of George Jones songs, so Allan refused.

Allan was introduced to songwriter/producer Byron Hill on August 28, 1993 by a mutual friend and talent-scout Jim Seal at a bar called the Lion D'or in Downey, California, where Allan was already regularly performing. Seal and Hill had asked Allan if they could showcase an unsigned act that they were developing there. Hill had arranged to bring the head of A&R from a major label to the show to see this other act perform. Allan kindly let them use his stage for the event, giving the new act the opening performance slot that night. Hill promised Gary that they would make sure the A&R person remained there to see his portion of the show. Everyone was knocked out with Allan's performance, and very impressed with his voice. From that point on, Hill began sending Allan songs. Without any serious funding at the time, Hill arranged for Allan to go into Seal's small studio in California to try his vocals on some of existing demo tracks that Hill had sent to Allan from Nashville, Tennessee. Meanwhile, Hill became head of A&R at BNA Entertainment on October 29 of that same year and immediately wanted to sign Allan to BNA, but the then current roster conditions and other circumstances related to the planned restructuring of RCA/BNA Nashville stood in the way.

In the meantime, Allan took a job selling cars. He left a demo tape in the glove box of a car purchased by a wealthy couple. When the couple discovered that he was the singer, they wrote him a check for $12,000. This independent funding allowed Allan to go to Nashville to record some of the songs that were on that early demo tape with Hill as producer. On September 11, 1995, they worked at Javelina Studios for a couple of days on the four songs that Hill immediately showed to labels. Allan's recordings brought serious responses from several labels including Mercury, RCA, and Decca. A meeting was then held at a Nashville hotel among Hill, Allan, and friend of Allan's, who was a program director for a radio station in California, to arrange two showcases in Los Angeles, California, to put Allan on stage at two of the radio station's regular nights at a local club. Byron arranged for staffers at the Nashville office of Decca Records to attend the first showcase held on November 1, 1995. Decca immediately wanted to sign Allan, and knowing that Byron was lining up other labels to see Gary, Decca asked them to cancel the second showcase. A rep from RCA was already booked to see the second showcase the following week, but the "bird-in-hand" deal offer was too tempting for both Hill and Allan, so they committed to the Decca offer.

His first deal, with Decca Records Nashville, produced the 1996 album Used Heart for Sale. The album was named "Best of the Month" by Stereo Review. It advanced to the top 20 of the charts, and produced a Top 10 country hit with the track Her Man (previously recorded by Waylon Jennings). Other tracks from the album, however, proved less successful.

His second album, It Would Be You, was released in 1998. Although Allan had been writing songs since he was a teenager, he does not hesitate to bump his work from his albums in favor of those written by other songwriters he respects. For his second album, Allan replaced one of his songs with No Judgement Day, written by Allen Shamblin. Although the song was a hidden acoustic track, radio stations began giving it heavy airplay. The song tells the story of a shopkeeper in Texas, whose children killed him in search of money. The title track of the album became Allan's second top 10 hit of the year, remaining in the top 10 after 21 weeks of radio play, "way beyond the tenure of most disposable radio hits." At the beginning of 1999, Decca Records folded, and when Allan moved to the parent label, MCA Nashville, It Would Be You was left in limbo.

In 1999, Allan released Smoke Rings in the Dark, an album he recorded while in the midst of a divorce from his second wife, Versace model Danette Day, after only seven months of marriage. Unlike his first two albums, Smoke Rings in the Dark made fuller use of background singers and stringed instruments, "resulting in a lusher, fuller sound." The new album avoided the "devil-may-care brashness" of the first two, instead presenting a tone balanced between youthful optimism and "the knowledge that some of life's experiences exact a high toll." Smoke Rings in the Dark was certified platinum, and it included two successful singles.

In 2001 the album Alright Guy was released. It contained the singles The One, Man of Me, and Man to Man, the latter of which became his first Billboard No. 1 hit. The same year, Allan married for the third time, to Angela, a flight attendant he met on an airplane.

Despite his previous success and eight years in the music business, Allan was nominated for the Country Music Association's Horizon Award, typically given to newcomers, in 2003. The same year he released his fifth album, See If I Care. Allan had to fight to keep the title, which he felt epitomized his attitude towards the music business, that he would continue to make the music that he wanted to make regardless of whether the record label chose to back him or people chose to buy the album. See If I Care included his second and third Number One singles, Tough Little Boys and Nothing On but the Radio. Songs About Rain was a top 15 hit.

In 2003, Allan and his wife, Angela Herzberg, moved to Tennessee from California. On October 25, 2004, Angela Herzberg committed suicide after suffering from depression and migraines. Allan initially put his career on hold, but soon turned to music to deal with the loss of his wife. This resulted in 2005's "heart-wrenchingly personal album," Tough All Over. He included several songs which he wrote or cowrote, including Puttin' Memories Away and I Just Got Back from Hell, which dealt directly with his grief. Several years later, Gary discussed his wife's suicide on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Tough All Over sold over 99,000 copies in its first week, debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the magazine's Top Country Albums chart. It was subsequently certified gold by the RIAA as of December 20, 2006, and contained the top 10 singles Best I Ever Had (written by Vertical Horizon's Matt Scannell) and Life Ain't Always Beautiful, co-written by country singer Cyndi Thomson (under the name Cyndi Goodman).

Allan's first Greatest Hits collection was released on March 6, 2007. A Number One album on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts, the album reprised the greatest hits from his first six albums, as well as two new songs. One of these, titled A Feelin' Like That, was co-written by David Lee Murphy and Ira Dean (the latter a former member of Trick Pony); the single peaked at #12 on the country singles charts.

Allan's album titled Living Hard, was released on October 23, 2007. Serving as its lead-off single was the song Watching Airplanes, which spent more than thirty weeks on the country charts, where it reached a peak of #2 and went #1 on the Mediabase Chart. The song's music video was filmed during live concerts, including one at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. Second single Learning How to Bend – co-written by Allan – quickly became another hit song, peaking at #13. The video was filmed during a live performance at the House of Blues in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Following this song is third single She's So California, which Allan co-wrote with Jaime Hanna (of Hanna-McEuen) and Jon Randall, and it peaked at #24, becoming his first single to miss the top 20 since Lovin' You Against My Will in 2000.

Today was released on June 12, 2009, serving as the lead-off single to Allan's studio album, Get Off on the Pain, which was released on March 9, 2010. Title track, Get Off on the Pain, was the album's second single. It debuted at #42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the highest-debuting single of his career. Kiss Me When I'm Down the album's third single released to radio in 2010. It debuted at #52 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

http://www.garyallan.com/pain/

What Would Willie Do
Gary Allan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 rooser 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

Overall Meaning

Gary Allan's song What Would Willie Do speaks about how the singer goes through struggles, and when he is at his lowest point, he thinks about what Willie would do in his situation. The song speaks about the famous musician, Willie Nelson, as someone who is powerful and can overcome any obstacle in his path. The lyrics in the song investigate and explore Nelson’s music career and life, emphasizing his love for his fans and his ability to connect with people of all kinds. The singer of the song admires Willie’s level of musicianship and ability to make a successful career in the music industry for several years. Willie's story also teaches the listeners not to give up on their dreams, and to look up to people who have made something of themselves in their respective fields.

The first verse of the song talks about how the singer was going through a difficult phase in life and heard a voice that changed everything. He goes on to sing about how it is a new day and he is not afraid to acknowledge that he has been through difficult times. The chorus is all about how when things get tough, he asks himself what Willie would do. The second verse speaks about how Willie has traveled so far with just his song and guitar, and how he loves all people, regardless of how they look. The third verse goes back to the time when Willie became popular, and how the whole world sang along to his songs. But then people stopped listening to his music, and he had to move to Austin. However, the people of Austin embraced him, and he sang his way into their hearts. The singer admires the fact that Willie had to work hard to get where he is today.

Line by Line Meaning

I was lost in trouble and strife, I heard a voice and it changed my life
The singer was struggling and in a bad place until they heard something that helped them turn their life around.

And now it's a brand new day, and I ain't afraid to say
The singer has a new outlook on life and wants to express their feelings without fear.

You're not alone when you're down and out
Even when you feel down or troubled, there are still people who care about you and support you.

And I think you know who I'm talking about
The artist is referring to a specific person who can offer guidance and inspiration during tough times.

When I don't know how I'll get through
During moments of uncertainty or difficulty, the artist turns to something for guidance.

I ask myself what would Willie do
The singer looks to Willie Nelson as a source of inspiration when facing challenges or tough decisions.

What would Willie do, well he'd travel so far with nothing but a song and his old guitar
Willie is known for his dedication to music and the ability to connect with people across long distances.

And a tour bus and some semi-trucks, thirty crew men and a little bit of luck
Despite his humble beginnings, Willie's success led to large concert tours, lots of personnel, and some luck.

Well he loves all the people, the ugly and the randy
Willie values all people, regardless of their appearance or behavior.

If you don't believe me take a look at the family
Willie's family and relationships reflect his inclusive and accepting values.

And they'll tell you that it's true
Those close to Willie can confirm his values and actions.

When skies are gray what would Willie do
When times are tough or uncertain, the artist asks themselves what Willie would do in that situation.

Well long ago he came unto us, his words were simple but they went right through us
Willie's music and messages have resonated with people for a long time, even with their simplicity.

And the whole world sang along, but then they didn't want to hear his songs
Willie's music became popular but fell out of favor for a while.

He was gone and we thought we'd lost him
When Willie stopped making music, people assumed he was gone for good.

But he grew his hair and he moved to Austin
Willie made a change in his life by moving to a new city and adopting a new look.

And all of the people smiled, they came to hear him sing from miles
Willie's music found new popularity, and people came from far and wide to hear him perform.

Like a miracle all those rednecks and hippies
Willie's fanbase is eclectic and diverse.

From New York City down to Mississippi
People across the country enjoy Willie's music and message.

Stood together and raised a brew
Despite their differences, Willie's fans come together and celebrate.

When it's all gone wrong what would Willie do
During times of struggle, the artist seeks inspiration from Willie's actions and perspective.

You know sometimes I wonder when I ain't gettin' nowhere
The artist is feeling lost and uncertain about their path in life.

What would old Willie do when it all gets too much to bear
In moments of overwhelm, the singer seeks guidance from Willie as an example.

And I can see him on his lonely old tour bus
The artist has a vision of what Willie might be doing on his own tour bus.

And he's got his problems just like any of us
Willie encounters issues and struggles, just like anyone else.

Well he'd just take a deep breath and then he'd let it all go
Willie copes with his problems by taking deep breaths and letting go of the tension.

And he'd take another deep breath and let it all go
Willie repeats this process until he feels more centered and relaxed.

And he'd take another deep breath...and he'd hold it
Willie draws in and holds his breath as a way of managing his emotions.

Ah and I bet he'd feel hungry in a way that seems strange
Willie experiences an unusual sense of hunger, perhaps related to his emotions.

Yeah hungry for all the things that he just can't change
Willie desires things that are out of his control or influence.

Like the time he passed out in is own bedroom
The singer refers to an incident in Willie's past where he lost consciousness at home.

And his wife sewed him up in the sheets and beat him with a broom and he forgave her
Willie's wife reacted in an extreme way to his condition, but he still forgave her for her actions.

And you think that's rough, well then the IRS came and they took away all of his stuff
Willie faced significant financial struggles when the IRS confiscated his possessions.

They took his golf course and his recording studio, and he just went out and did another show
Despite these losses, Willie continued to perform for his fans and follow his passions.

So when it's all coming down on you
During moments of crisis or stress,

You better ask yourself what would Willie do
The artist suggests looking to Willie as a source of guidance and coping strategies.

what would Willie do, well he'd take a little time
Willie values taking time for oneself and engaging with others.

And talk to old rooser as he'd drive on down the line
Willie finds comfort in speaking with others and connecting with animals.

And there's millions down that road, and with a word he's gonna lighten their load
Willie's music and message help support people across the country, alleviating their struggles and hardships.

He loves all the people no matter their races
Willie values all individuals and does not discriminate based on race or ethnicity.

Hell he even had a hit country song with Julio Iglesias
Willie's collaborations with people from different backgrounds exemplify his openness and positive attitude towards all.

And that ain't easy to do, so when it's all too much, what would Willie
Willie's inclusive values and actions set an important example for others, especially during tough times.

When the game gets tough what would Willie
The singer relies on Willie's insight when facing difficult situations or challenges.

When they call your bluff what would Willie do
The artist looks to Willie for guidance when faced with a situation where money or power are at stake.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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