Song Highlight: “We Just Gotta Be (Grateful)”

[Photo Credit: Jordan Wozniak]

This month’s song highlight is David’s most requested song, “We Just Gotta Be (Grateful)”, recorded on David Willersdorf’s Outside the Inside album in Nashville.

“I wrote ‘We Just Gotta Be (Grateful)’ when I was thinking about the crazy world we live in and how to navigate through it all. I often feel bombarded with the world’s negativity and injustices - especially on social media with everyone’s ranting - and wrote this song about coming back to the basics - gratitude, friendship, kindness and family. I started thinking about all the little and large things for which I feel so thankful, and choosing to get my joy from all I’m thankful for.

“The music of the song has a real gospel vibe. A friend asked me where I found the gospel choir we used on the Outside the Inside album. It was really just me, Rick Price and incredible female vocalist, Kristen Rogers. We just kept on singing a whole bunch of layer parts and capturing the joy of the song together.

“I was joined on the recording by some incredible musicians, including musicians who have played alongside Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, The Doobie Brothers, George Strait, Vince Gill and many others. Guitarist Rob McNelley had just been named ACM Guitarist of the Year for the second time. I felt humbled to be amongst such great and talented people - especially having them all record my songs. You can almost hear my gratitude as I played my piano parts and sang about being thankful.

“I’m not the smartest guy around, but the simplicity of not just walking past the little good things of life without taking a moment to appreciate them is a lesson I’ve taken to heart and is what this song is about.”

As always, if you like the song and it’s message, feel free to share it, stream it, like it and sing it in your shower.

We Just Gotta Be (Grateful)

Verse 1:

Sometimes, it’s overwhelming
This life’s misunderstandings
The world, the chaos of it
And all it’s dark surroundings
I wish I had what you have
Exchange my joy for your fad
This life, the meaning of it
Come back to where we started

Chorus:

Sometimes, we just gotta be grateful
Sometimes, we just gotta be grateful

Verse 2:

I see my friends, my family
Our love and all it’s beauty
The sun, it keeps on rising
Each day a new horizon
I try and count my blessings
So many wonderful things
I see my joy, I choose it
I’m back to where I started

Bridge:

Sometimes, you just gotta be grateful

Words and Music by David Willersdorf
© 2017 David Willersdorf / Whistletone

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