John Prine - Billy the Bum lyrics

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

(Repeat chorus)