Don Williams’ “What If It Worked Like That”: A Simple Man’s Profound Wish for a Kinder World
To listen to Don Williams is to feel the weight of the world lifted, even when the songs themselves are steeped in melancholy or a deep, thoughtful yearning. His music, delivered in that signature, comforting baritone—so smooth, so unhurried—always possessed the rare ability to make complex emotions feel manageable, even beautiful. The 2012 track “What If It Worked Like That” is a shining example of this late-career genius, a quiet meditation on modern life that feels especially poignant coming from “The Gentle Giant” as he entered his final years of recording.
While many of Don Williams’ biggest hits—like “Tulsa Time” and “I Believe in You”—dominated the charts in the 70s and 80s, “What If It Worked Like That” arrived much later, in the digital age, as a key track on his critically acclaimed 2012 album, And So It Goes. This album marked a wonderful return for Williams, showcasing his enduring relevance and attracting new, younger listeners. Consequently, this song did not debut on the country charts with the fanfare of his classic singles; instead, its success was measured in the deep respect it garnered from critics and the quiet, devoted appreciation of his long-time audience. Its placement on this late-period masterpiece, which featured collaborations with younger stars like Keith Urban, proves that even decades into his career, Williams had a timeless perspective to share.
The story and meaning of “What If It Worked Like That” lie in its simple, almost prayer-like premise: a longing for an emotional economy where love and forgiveness operate as seamlessly and naturally as the simplest laws of nature. The song, written by Ronnie Bowman, Lynn Hutton, and Jason Sellers, captures a profound disillusionment with the way people often treat each other, contrasting this harsh reality with a hopeful, idealized vision.
The essence of the song is beautifully summed up in its central question: What if we could truly wash away our mistakes as easily as a river flows, or mend a broken heart as simply as tying a knot? It’s a soulful plea for a world where emotional healing and reciprocal kindness aren’t difficult, messy struggles, but effortless, inherent parts of the human condition. For the older listener, this song hits a particularly resonant chord. We’ve all seen enough life, enough failure, and enough heartbreak to know how rarely things actually do work out that simply. The accumulated wisdom of age makes the “What if?” question not naive, but deeply, thoughtfully wistful.
When Don Williams sings this, his voice carries the weight of a life fully lived, making the fantasy of easy forgiveness feel earned and necessary. He isn’t singing about youthful dreams; he’s offering a quiet, mature reflection on the cost of pride, the burden of grudges, and the universal desire for redemption. It’s an exercise in empathy—a gentle suggestion that perhaps, if we just wished it worked like that, if we truly believed it was possible, maybe, just maybe, we could start trying to live that way.
The production on And So It Goes is wonderfully understated, allowing Williams’ voice and the insightful lyrics to take center stage, exactly as they should. The song is a warm, melancholic embrace, providing a moment of calm reflection amidst the noise of the world. It’s a testament to the fact that even near the end of his remarkable journey, Don Williams remained the ultimate purveyor of gentle truths, leaving us with a song that is less about charts and more about challenging us to become the kinder people we wish others would be.