John Prine – Billy The Bum (Ukulele)

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Chords

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
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