G5 C5 G5 Billy Dee was seventeen when he turned twenty-one D5 Fooling with some foolish things he could've left alone G5 C5 G5 But he had to try to satisfy a thirst he couldn't name D5 G5 Driven towards the darkness by the devil in his veins C5 G5 All around the honky tonks,searching for a sign D5 Gettin' by on gettin' high on women,words and wine G5 C5 G5 Some folks called him crazy,Lord,and others called him free D5 G5 But we just called us lucky for the love of Billy Dee Verse 2:(Three and a half tones lower) C5 F5 C5 Busy goin' his own way and speakin' his own words G5 Facin' and forgettin' every warnin' that he heard C5 F5 C5 Makin' friends and takin' any crazy chance he could G5 C5 Gettin' busted for the bad times and believin' in the good F5 C5 Billy took a beatin' from a world he meant no harm G5 The score was written in the scars up on his arm C5 F5 C5 Some felt he was payin' for the life he tried to lead G5 C5 But all we felt was sorry for our good friend Billy Dee Verse 3:(Four and a half tones higher) A5 D5 A5 It may be his soul bigger than a body's oughta be E5 Singin' songs and bringin' laughter to the likes of you and me A5 D5 A5 Cause the world he saw was sadder than the one he hoped to find E5 A5 But it wasn't near as lonesome as the one he left behind D5 A5 Yesterday they found him on the floor of his hotel E5 Reachin' towards the needle,Lord,that drove him down to hell A5 D5 A5 Some folks called it suicide,others blame the speed E5 A5 But we all called it crucified when Billy Dee O.D.'d
