Billy The Bum
Billy the bum lived by the thumb
And sang of the hobos delight
Hed 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 cant 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 billyd wave back
But the children around billys 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 pitys a crime
And it aint worth a dime
To a person whos really in need
Just treat em the same
As you would your own name
Next time that your heart starts to bleed
(repeat chorus)
song performed by by John Prine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
Rockaway The Days
Billy got out of prison but he wasnt right
Some like to drink or gamble, billy liked to fight
He tracked back to his home state of maryland
Went to his moms mobile home where she took him in, alright
Chorus:
Rockaway the days, rockaway the nights
Gimme something to last me, baby, till the morning light
I aint lookin for trouble, I aint looking for a fight
Honey rockaway these days, rockaway these nights
Well at a picnic one sunday billy met mary dove
Mary looked at billy, billy fell in love
Billy swore to mary hed always love her so
They were married in the valley where the river flows, alright
(chorus)
At a roadside bar billy argued with a young man
And he settled that argument with a razor in his hand
With blood on his shirt back to mary he did run
She sighed billy, oh billy, what have you done?
He ran to his mas trailer but the lights were dim
He pounded on the door, she wouldnt let him in
Up the road to a neighbors house he drew near
They said billy go away, we dont want no trouble round here
Billy stole a car and headed out on the road
Pocketful of pills and his brain on overload
Seen some lights in his rearview mirror, panicked and gave her the gun
Wrapped himself round a telephone pole way out on 101
Well billy got cut out by the highway patrol
Just lay there with the cars passing on slow
Sheriff told billys ma that billy died
She buried his body by the riverside, alright
(chorus)
Well rich man want the power and the seat on the top
Poor man want the money that the rich man got
Honey tonight Im feeling so tired and unsure
Come on in mary, shut the light, close the door
(chorus)
song performed by by Bruce Springsteen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Candy From Strangers
Summers come and gone,
Billy faded like the sun,
Mommy wants him back where he belongs.
Waiting by the phone,
Billy please come home.
(CHORUS)
Open up your eyes,
Walking into danger.
Happens every time,
Children look for saviors.
(But I fall) for candy from strangers.
Lisa lost her way,
Walking home from school today.
The headlines read that only books remained.
Daddys little girl, vanished from his world.
(REPEAT CHORUS)
(But I fall)
Summers come again,
With wounds that never mend
(REPEAT CHORUS TWICE)
song performed by by Open Skyz
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Billys Bones
Billy ran around with the rare old crew
And he knew an arsenal from tottenham blue
Wed be a darn sight better of if we knew
Where billys bones are resting now
Billy saw a copper and he hit him in the knee
And he took him down from six foot to five foot three
Then he hit him fair and square in the do-re-mi
That copper wont be having any family
Hey billy son where are you now
Dont you know that we need you now
With a ra-ta-ta and the old kow-tow
Where are billys bones resting now
Billy went away with the peace-keeping force
cause he liked a bloody good fight of course
Went away in an old khaki van to the banks of the river jordan
Billy saw the arabs and he had em on the run
When he got em in the range of his sub-machine gun
Then he had the israelis in his sights, went a ra-ta-ta
And they ran like shiites
Hey billy son where are you now
Dont you know that we need you now
With a ra-ta-ta and the old kow-tow
Where are billys bones resting now
One night billy had a rare old time,
Laughing and singing on the lebanon line
Came back to camp not looking too pretty
Never even got to see the holy city
Now billys out there in the desert sun
And his mother cries when the morning comes
And theres mothers crying all over this world
For their poor dead darling boys and girls
Hey billy son where are you now
Dont you know that we need you now
With a ra-ta-ta and the old kow-tow
Where are billys bones resting now
Have a billy holiday
Born on a monday
Married on a tuesday
Drunk on a wednesday
Got plugged on a thursday
Sick on a friday
Died on a saturday
Buried on a sunday
song performed by by Pogues
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Down Home Town
The world outside dont like us much,
cos they aint got our classy touch,
But they aint good enough to breathe,
This towns good air we make em leave.
Chorus:
But its no, no, no, you really cant do that,
No, no, no, down homw town.
No monkey business in this town,
Well who do you think youre pushing round,
This towns respectable and clean,
Just look around youll see what I mean.
Chorus: repeat
Down home town, down home town, etc.
Chorus: repeat
We got the best town band around,
Just listen to their crazy sound.
When they get hot they gonna blow,
Ucedemwinnin** every show.
Down home town, down home town, etc.
Chorus: repeat
Look out.
song performed by by Electric Light Orchestra
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Great Compromise
I knew a girl who was almost a lady
She had a way with all the men in her life
Every inch of her blossomed in beauty
And she was born on the fourth of july
Well she lived in an aluminum house trailer
And she worked in a juke box saloon
And she spent all the money I give her
Just to see the old man in the moon
Chorus:
I used to sleep at the foot of old glory
And awake in the dawns early light
But much to my surprise
When I opened my eyes
I was a victim of the great compromise
Well wed go out on saturday evenings
To the drive-in on route 41
And it was there that I first suspected
That she was doin what shed already done
She said johnny wont you get me some popcorn
And she knew I had to walk pretty far
And as soon as I passed through the moonlight
She hopped into a foreign sports car
(repeat chorus)
Well you know I could have beat up that fellow
But it was her that had hopped into his car
Many times Id fought to protect her
But this time she was goin too far
Now some folks they call me a coward
cause I left her at the drive-in that night
But Id druther have names thrown at me
Than to fight for a thing that aint right
(repeat chorus)
Now she writes all the fellows love letters
Saying greetings, come and see me real soon
And they go and line up in the barroom
And spend the night in that sick womans room
But sometimes I get awful lonesome
And I wish she was my girl instead
But she wont let me live with her
And she makes me live in my head
(repeat chorus)
song performed by by John Prine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ballad Of Conley & Billy The Proofs In The Picken
Screamn whitewall tires and a guitar by his side
Billys got the fever as he rolls on thru the night
Some were born to listen, some were born to play
He was lightning on the highstrings and thunder on the bass
Chorus
He could play it high, he could play it low
He could make it cry, he could make it moan
He knows when push comes to shove
The proofs in the pickin
In a smoky little tavern just off of bourbon street
Tobacco stained fingers waited on the down beat
Conley was the master, the undisputed king
Hed ruled the town for thirty years
With an army of six strings
Chorus
Sometimes after midnight billy drives through new orleans
Straight to the french quarter theres a man he has to see
The music is a raging like a city thats on fire
Billy felt just like an altar boy at the feet of a higher power
Conley watched as billy walked across the room
Opened his case and started a tune
The whole club was silent and the lights were turned down low
Billy stepped up on the stage and conley whispered go son, go
Chorus
Conley held his hand up, no one made a sound
And he handed bill his old archtop and stepped into the crowd
Billy played it soft, billy played it sad
Then he made it talk and in came the band
Soon the room was shaking before billys wall of sound
And just a block off bourbon street, a new kings been crowned.
Chorus
song performed by by Diamond Rio
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Wide Open Spaces
Who doesnt know what Im talking about
Whos never left home, whos never struck out
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone
Many precede and many will follow
A young girls dream no longer hollow
It takes the shape of a place out west
But what it holds for her, she hasnt yet guessed
Chorus:
She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes
She travelled this road as a child
Wide eyed and grinning, she never tired
But now she wont be coming back with the rest
If these are lifes lessons, shell take this test
Repeat chorus
She knows the high stakes
As her folks drive away, her dad yells, check the oil!
Mom stares out the window and says, Im leaving my girl
She says, it didnt seem like that long ago
When she stood there and let her own folks know
Repeat chorus
She knows the high stakes
She knows the high stakes
She knows the high stakes
She knows the high stakes
song performed by by Dixie Chicks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sown Home Town
The world outside don't like us much,
'Cos they ain't got our classy touch,
But they ain't good enough to breathe,
This towns good air we make 'em leave
CHORUS
But it's no, no, no,
you really can't do that,
No, no, no,
down home town
No monkey business in this town,
Well who do you think you're pushing 'round,
This towns respectable and clean,
Just look around you'll see what I mean
CHORUS Repeat
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
CHORUS Repeat
We got the best town band around,
Just listen to their crazy sound
When they get hot they gonna blow,
You see them running every show
(I wish I was in the land of Dixie
Look Away...)
Down home town,
Gotta get down
Down home town
Gotta get down
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
CHORUS
(I wish I was in the land of Dixie
Look Away...)
song performed by by Electric Light Orchestra
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Billy Was A Picker
Billy was a picker on Saturday nights.
He’d lose himself in the neon lights.
He’d travel places he’d never been.
Even leave his body now and again.
He’d leave behind
The weekday grind
And soar.
You’re oh so cool, the folks’d say
You’re gonna be a star some day
And we’ll all say we knew you when.
And act like we’re your long lost friend.
And when you’re on TV
We’ll all get to be
There too.
And Billy began to believe the praise
He began to plan his life for the days
When every one would know his name
A life of glamour, fortune, and fame
And so he changed
And then arranged
His debut.
He hocked every single possession
And invested in a recording session
He was sure he’d wow them all
And then just wait for the calls
To come rolling in
They’ll call and then
STARDOM!
He booked the local concert hall
Every dime he had, he spent it all
And sure enough, he sold it out
(As if anyone had a doubt)
They knew he would
He was that good.
A picker.
See, Billy was a picker on Saturday nights.
He’d lose himself in the neon lights.
He’d travel places he’d never been.
Even leave his body now and again.
He’d leave behind
The weekday grind
And soar.
So then it came, on that hot June night
Billy and his guitar, were ready for flight
Billy and his guitar, took center stage
Billy and his guitar, were “all the rage”
Said his friends
And so begins
His ride.
But the critics weren’t nearly so kind
“He always plays one beat behind”
“As if he’s not part of the band”
“And frankly don’t think I could stand”
“Another minute”
“Hearts not in it”
“So sad”
And Billy never played another Saturday Night
He would no longer let his soul take flight
The critics were so wrong about one thing
His heart was in it when he’d pick and sing
And his heart
They’d killed it
And his voice
They’d stilled it
Forever.
poem by Gerry Leopard
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Down Home
Rick bowles/josh leo
Just off of the beaten path
A little dot on a state road map
Thats where I was born and where Ill die
Things move at a slower pace
Nobodys in the rat race
And these days thats a special way of life
Chorus:
Down home, where they know you by name
And treat you like family
Down home, a mans godd word and s hand shake
Are all you need
Folks know, if they;re fallnig on hard times
They can fall back on
Thos of us raised up down home
In the corner of the hardware store
Gathered round a checkerboard
Old men telling lies and crowning kings
Kids driving round th eold town square
Tops rolled down in the coll night air
Do and see whats shaking at the dairy queen
Rpeat chorus
Bridge
When I was a boy, I couldnt wait to leave this place
Butnow I want to see my children raised down home, down home
Folks know, if theyre falling on hard times
They can fall back on
Those of us raised up...
Repeat chorus
(c) 1990 maypop music (a division of wildcountry, inc.) bmi & warner/elektra/asylum music, inc./mopage music(bmi). all rights reserved.
song performed by by Alabama
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Billy Radcliff
Billy radcliffe didnt go to town and when he looked up he was really looking down catching blue in his eyes that were brown billy radcliffe
Billy radcliffe owned by the state from his first breath to the cemetery gate he was the first boy born in space billy radcliffe
Billy radcliffe very first one he really had lived just a cursed son a split in half man sang the cherubim billy radcliffe
Billy radcliffe saw what the devil man saw a spot of blue in the black of the eye of the lord such a cruel love is the kind that has wrought billy radcliffe
Billy sadly didnt live long he had to stay there because he wasnt too strong hes stepping out the door blowing up like a bomb billy radcliffe
Billy radcliffe very first one really a hatched man a light switch son a split in half man sang the cherubim I bet you cried when he died now didja, now didja?
Now billy radcliffe saw what the devil man saw a spot of blue in the black of the eye of the lord now billy radcliffe saw what the devil had and I feel very bad for william radcliffe
song performed by by Frank Black
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Daydreamin
Billy young, bernard spears, victor hill & maurice white
Chorus:
Daydreamin when Im thinking of you
Missing all the things that we used to do
Dancing at the party on a saturday night
It was cool
Dont know how I could have been so blind
The feelings that we shared showed all the signs
Love was right there in the palm of my hand
For me
She tried in every way
To show how much she loved me
I was a fool
I just kept running away
Could it be baby
Seems to me honey
We should have been together from the start
Im all alone darling
So far from home sugar
Girl I need you in my life
Chorus
Bridge:
Walking round
All over town
Youre the love
That I found
Baby, baby
I wanna come back to you
Heres my heart
Take my hand
Walk with me
Love will stand
Baby, baby
I wanna come back to you
Chorus
song performed by by Earth Wind And Fire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Pascagoula Run
The pascagoula run
By: jimmy buffett, jay oliver
1989
Billy pulled in in a jaguar
Red convertable sixty-five
Headed home to mississippi, hed been around the world
That black sheep uncle of mine
His ship had come in, he was looking to sin
Singing his own song
When he yelled from the drive, my heart came alive
Jimmy boy come along
Chorus:
Its time to see the world
Its time to kiss a girl
Its time to cross the wild meridian
Grab your bag and take a chance
Time to learn a cajun dance
Kid youre gonna see the morning sun
On the pascagoula run
Pascagoula run
Friday night at the stateline bar
Where the waterfront people dwell
I better watch my step if the floor caves in
Ill go right straight to hell
There were pinball machines and cajun queens
Men with knives and scars
Billy moved cross the floor to the real hard core
And said, heres where it gets bizarre
Chorus:
Its time to see the world
Its time to kiss a girl
Its time to cross the wild meridian
Grab your bag and take a chance
Time to learn a cajun dance
Kid youre gonna see the morning sun
On the pascagoula run
Pascagoula run
What do the ladies say, what do the ladies say
What do the ladies say, what do the ladies say
What do the ladies say, what do the ladies say
What do the ladies say, what do the ladies say
Bring that young man over here
Were going to buy that boy a beer
And that aint all we want to do
Bring your crazy uncle too
Chorus:
Its time to see the world
Its time to kiss a girl
Its time to cross the wild meridian
Grab your bag and take a chance
Time to learn a cajun dance
Kid youre gonna see the morning sun
On the pascagoula run
Pascagoula run
Pascagoula run
song performed by by Jimmy Buffett
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Pascagoula Run
Billy pulled in in a Jaguar
Red convertable sixty-five
Headed home to Mississippi, he'd been around the world
That black sheep uncle of mine
His ship had come in, he was looking to sin
Singing his own song
When he yelled from the drive, my heart came alive
"Jimmy boy come along"
Chorus:
It's time to see the world
It's time to kiss a girl
It's time to cross the wild meridian
Grab your bag and take a chance
Time to learn a Cajun dance
Kid you're gonna see the morning sun
On the Pascagoula run
Pascagoula run
Friday night at the Stateline bar
Where the waterfront people dwell
I better watch my step if the floor caves in
I'll go right straight to hell
There were pinball machines and cajun queens
Men with knives and scars
Billy moved 'cross the floor to the real hard core
And said, "Here's where it gets bizarre"
Chorus:
It's time to see the world
It's time to kiss a girl
It's time to cross the wild meridian
Grab your bag and take a chance
Time to learn a Cajun dance
Kid you're gonna see the morning sun
On the Pascagoula run
Pascagoula run
What do the ladies say, what do the ladies say
What do the ladies say, what do the ladies say
What do the ladies say, what do the ladies say
What do the ladies say, what do the ladies say
Bring that young man over here
We're going to buy that boy a beer
And that ain't all we want to do
Bring your crazy uncle too
Chorus:
It's time to see the world
It's time to kiss a girl
It's time to cross the wild meridian
Grab your bag and take a chance
Time to learn a Cajun dance
Kid you're gonna see the morning sun
On the Pascagoula run
Pascagoula run
Pascagoula run
song performed by by Jimmy Buffett
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Go Tell It On The Mountain
Chorus:
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the montain
That jesus christ is born
The sheperds all were watchin
Over the sheep at night
When a guiding star shone from heaven
And they followed that holy light
Repeat chorus:
They found a lowly manger
Where the humble christ was born
And God sent our salvation
On that blessed morn
Repeat chorus:
He brought with him forgiveness
He lived to show us the way
He came to redeem all creation
And to wash all our sins away
Repeat chorus:
song performed by by Garth Brooks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Im Going Home
Mama please dont go
Wont you stay here for one more day
Ive been your boy for so long now
Theres so much I still have to say
Sky rips open, and I hold my heart in my hand
Like a soldier on his very last day
Cried myself to sleep that night, and I listened
As I heard the angels sing
Chorus:
Sha la la la sha la la la, Im going home.
Sha la la la sha la la la, Im going home.
Something inside makes me scream
How could God take you from a little boy
Hell be alright, hes by my side
Hes no little boy, hes my pride and joy
Repeat chorus
Summer on the radio and the phone rings
And it was jeanette
She said boy we had to let her go
I begged her no, no not yet
You left six of us to fend for ourselves
I guess its part of someones master plan
I see you laughing, youre my best friend
Youre the light of the lamb, and I cried
As the angels sing
Repeat chorus twice
song performed by by Hootie & The Blowfish
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Love You Like I Did
Tell me whos gonna look at you
And love you for the person you are
Tell me whos gonna understand
That sometimes you can take things too far
Tell me whos gonna be there when
Times are good and when they are bad
Tell me whos gonna love you girl
The way I loved you
Tell me whos gonna be right there
To wipe your tears whenever you cry
Tell me whos gonna talk it out
To make sure everything is alright
Tell me whos gonna call you on the telephone
When youre all alone
Tell me whos gonna love you girl
[chorus:]
Aint nobody gonna do the things I did
Aint nobody gonna kiss the way I kiss
Aint nobody gonna spend the way I spend
Aint nobody gonna love you like I did
Aint nobody gonna be the fool for you
Aint nobody gonna open the doors for you
Aint nobody going through what I went through
Aint nobody gonna love you
Love you like I did...
Anytime you needed a friend
Girl I was right there for you
Anytime you needed love
You could call on me for that too
There is nothing, nothing that I wouldnt do for you
Tell me whos gonna love you girl
The way I loved you
Everything you always wanted
Girl you know I gave it to you
Never had to worry cuz you knew
I would take care of you
And you may find, another man
But cant nobody love you
The way that I loved you
[chorus]
How could you do it?
Baby, how could you (you did me wrong)
Treat me the way you did (you broke my heart)
And how could you leave me?
When you know I did (leave me by myself)
I did everything for you (girl, I did everything for you)
And youll never find another man to love you the way that I did
Girl nobody... nobody...
Will love you just like me...
[chorus until end]
song performed by by 112
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Aint That The Way It Always Ends
Johnny came home broken-hearted
Said he lost his girl
He burrowed up all the hurt in his heart
But still a hole in the wall of his world
Now betty, she was a blonde-haired beauty
With an eye for a man who could spend
She stole his heart in a pick-up truck
Then drove off in a mercedes van
And he said...
Chorus:
oh, she looked so innocent
Talkin bout bein just friends
Oh, and it dont make a bit of since
Aint that the way tit always ends?
Sharon, she had a long time dream
And only one man in her life
He kept her waitin
But she didnt care
Cuz he promised her hed make her his wife
Now billy, he had a good thing goin
But he let it go to his head
Well he got jealous late one night,
She caught them both in her bed
And she said...
(repeat chorus replacing she with he)
Oh it always looks so innocent
Talkin bout bein just friends
Oh and it dont make a bit og since
Aint that the way it always ends?
Aint that the way it always ends?
Aint that the way it al---ways ends?
song performed by by Tim McGraw
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Nothin You Can Do About It
Have you heard the news?
Im doing what I said I would
So now you say
Boy, I always knew you could
My wildest dreams
Murdered by reality
I gave you all I could give to you
But now Im taking back what belongs to me
I read you like a drugstore book
Howd I ever think you were cool
You got no bait left on your hook
Youre no friend and buddy, Im no fool
Chorus:
Aint nothin you can do about it
Aint nothin you can say
Aint nothin you can do about it
No ones gonna stand in my way
Ive done my time
Ive given up my pound of flesh
So why cant the man seem to understand
That Ive already passed the test
You did your best to keep me down
Tried to make my spirit give in
But Im here to make a big, big sound
Its your turn to lose and its my turn to win
Repeat chorus
I know you can never go back
Once you turn and walk out that door
Got no time for worries like that
Im not a kid anymore
You did your best to keep me down
Tried to make my spirit give in
But Im here to make a big, big sound
Its your turn to lose and my turn to win
Repeat chorus
song performed by by Richard Marx
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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It Always Rains On Saturday
(kendal franceschi,quentin powers,reba mcentire)
On monday the sun will be shining
On tuesday the weather was fine
Wednesday and thursday went by
By friday the clouds filled the sky
Dismorning I knew it would rain
The moment the telephone rang
I heard your voice and I knew
The sky turned a new shade of blue
Chorus:
And it looks like rain
It always rains on saturday
The dark clouds came
And the sunny days are gone away
This house feels so cold
It always feels like this when he goes away
Theres really nothing new about the rain
It always rains on saturday
I look into billys young smile
And watch him watch big bird a while
His daddy will be here by eight
Seems like the skys turning grey
Theres an overnight bag on the stairs
Beside a one eyed teddy bear
I hold billy and try not to cry
And whisper kiss mommy goodbye
Repeat chorus (it always feels like this when billy goes away)
song performed by by Reba Mcentire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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