Lyrics

The death of Bill Bailey Was no surprise to me If you knew him like I knew Then I know you would agree His friends all saw it coming They knew the end was near I was taken by his cunning Late in the autumn last year News of his killing Had traveled across this land Folks said it was fortune That he drew the dead man's hand He was handsome as he was charming Boy, he worked these mountain towns Till one night when the party ended Bill Bailey was lying down Many times I've cried Since Bill Bailey died He wasn't one to listen And he couldn't take good advice It's funny how I miss him And the way he sung his songs Bill Bailey was my friend And then he done me wrong I bought him a marble headstone And I buried him in the cold On a quiet winter's morning As the sun shined like gold A young and green-eyed woman Appeared through the haze She asked if I knew Bill Bailey I just said, "All his debts had been paid"