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