John Prine – Billy The Bum (Guitar)

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---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tabbed by: Dave S. Email: [email protected] Tuning: Standard Artist: John Prine Album: Diamonds in the Rough Year: 1972 [Intro] Bb F F C F [Verse 1]
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, laughed nickels on Saturday night

         F                                                      Bb
And your bullets they can't harm him, nor your knives tear him apart

  Bb        F               C                F
Humiliation killed him, God bless his little heart
[Verse 2]
       F
Now he lived all alone in a run down home

                                  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

                                 Bb
Seemed to have nothin' better to do

     Bb                              F
Than run around his house with their tongues from their mouth

         C                       F
And make fun of that cripped old fool
[Chorus]
    Bb            F             C               F
And he was just a gentle boy, a real florescent light

      Bb                F                                    C
Cried pennies on Sunday morning, laughed nickels on Saturday night

         F                                                      Bb
And your bullets they can't harm him, nor your knives tear him apart

  Bb        F               C                F
Humiliation killed him, God bless his little heart
[Verse 3]
    F
Now some folks a-wait and some folks a-pray

                      C
For Jesus to rise up again

    C
But none of these folks in their holy cloaks

                        F
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
[Chorus]
    Bb            F             C               F
For he was just a gentle boy, a real florescent light

      Bb                F                                    C
Cried pennies on Sunday morning, laughed nickels on Saturday night

         F                                                      Bb
And your bullets they can't harm him, nor your knives tear him apart

  Bb        F               C                F
Humiliation killed him, God bless his little heart