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Billy the Bum - John Prine
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Tuning: Standard
Artist: John Prine
Album: Diamonds in the Rough
Year: 1972
Intro:
Billy the bum lived by the thumb and sang of the hobo's delight
He'd prove he could run twice as fast as the sun
By losing his shadow at night
Now he loved every girl in this curly headed world
But no one will know it seems
For two twisted legs and a childhood disease
Left Billy just a bum in his dreams
Chorus:
And he was just a gentle boy, A real florescent light
Cried pennies on Sunday morning, Laughs nickels on Saturday night
And your bullets they can't harm him Nor your knives tear him apart
Humiliation killed him God bless his little heart
Now he lived all alone In a run down home
Near the side of the old railroad track
Where the trains used to run Carrying freight by the ton
And blow the whistle as Billy'd wave back
But the children around Billy's home town
Seemed to have nothin' better to do
Then run around his house With their tongues from their mouth
And make fun of that cripped old fool
(Repeat chorus)
Now some folks they wait And some folks they pray
For Jesus to rise up again, But none of these folks
In their holy cloaks Ever took Billy on as a friend
For pity's a crime And it ain't worth a dime
To a person who's really in need
Just treat em the same As you would your own name
Next time that your heart starts to bleed