Billy's Bones

Album: Rum Sodomy & the Lash (1985)
Play Video
  • Billy ran around with the rare old crew
    And he knew an arsenal from Tottenham blue
    We'd be a darn sight better of if we knew
    Where Billy's 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 won't be having any family

    Hey Billy son where are you now
    Don't you know that we need you now
    With a ra-ta-ta and the old kow-tow
    Where are Billy's 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
    Don't you know that we need you now
    With a ra-ta-ta and the old kow-tow
    Where are Billy's 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 Billy's out there in the desert sun
    And his mother cries when the morning comes
    And there's mothers crying all over this world
    For their poor dead darling boys and girls

    Hey Billy son where are you now
    Don't you know that we need you now
    With a ra-ta-ta and the old kow-tow
    Where are Billy's 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 Writer/s: SHANE PATRICK LYSAGHT MACGOWAN
    Publisher: DOWNTOWN MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC , Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

Dr. John

Dr. JohnSongwriter Interviews

The good doctor shares some candid insights on recording with Phil Spector and The Black Keys.