Bill Bailey
Al Hirt & Ann-Margret Lyrics
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Sun was shinin' fine,
The lady love of old Bill Bailey
Was hangin' clothes on the line
In her back yard,
And weepin' hard.
She married a B&O brakeman
That took and throwed her down,
With a big gang hanging round
And to that crowd,
She hollered loud:
[Chorus]
Won't you come home, Bill Bailey
Won't you come home?
She moans the whole day long.
I'll do the cookin', darling
I'll pay the rent,
I know I've done you wrong;
'member that rainy eve that
I threw you out,
With nothing but a fine-tooth comb?
I know I'm to blame,
Well, ain't that a shame
Bill Bailey won't you please come home.
Bill drove by that door
In an automobile,
A great big diamond, coach and footman
Hear that lady squeal.
He's all alone
I heard her groan.
She hollered through the door
Bill Bailey, is you sore?
Stop a minute, listen to me
Won't I see you no more?
Bill winks his eye
As he heard her cry:
[Chorus]
The lyrics to "Bill Bailey" by Al Hirt and Ann-Margret tell the story of a woman who is calling out to her estranged lover, Bill Bailey, to come back home. On a sunny day, the woman, who is identified as the "lady love of old Bill Bailey," is hanging clothes on the line in her backyard and weeping hard. She had married a B&O brakeman who had thrown her down and berated her in front of a large crowd. The woman desperately calls out to Bill Bailey to come home, promising to do the cooking and pay the rent. She also reminds him of their past memories and the fact that she knows she's done him wrong. However, it becomes clear that Bill Bailey has moved on from their relationship, as he drives by in an automobile with a great big diamond, coach, and footman, and the woman is left groaning and calling out to him through the door, desperate for him to come back.
The lyrics to "Bill Bailey" express a poignant theme of heartbreak and lost love, depicting the desperation of a woman who has lost her partner and wishes he would return. The song features a catchy chorus that emphasizes the woman's plea for Bill Bailey to come home, and the verses create a narrative arc that adds context to the situation. Overall, the song offers a powerful expression of the emotions that surround a relationship that has come apart, as well as the nostalgia and longing that can accompany such events.
Line by Line Meaning
One one summer's day,
On one summer day
Sun was shinin' fine,
The weather was beautiful, with the sun shining bright
The lady love of old Bill Bailey
Bill Bailey's significant other
Was hangin' clothes on the line
She was hanging clothes outside to dry
In her back yard,
In the back of her house
And weepin' hard.
Crying heavily and intensely
She married a B&O brakeman
She married a railroad worker for B&O railroad who operated the brakes
That took and throwed her down,
He mistreated her and threw her down
Bellerin' like a prune-fed calf
Yelling like a constipated, uncomfortable and annoyed calf
With a big gang hanging round
With a large group of people nearby
And to that crowd,
Directing her message to that group of people
She hollered loud:
She yelled loudly
Won't you come home, Bill Bailey
Asking Bill Bailey to come home
Won't you come home?
Asking Bill Bailey to come back home
She moans the whole day long.
She cries and complains throughout the whole day
I'll do the cookin', darling
Offering to cook for Bill Bailey
I'll pay the rent,
Offering to pay the rent
I know I've done you wrong;
Admitting that she made a mistake
'member that rainy eve that
Remembering a specific evening when
I threw you out,
Kicking him out of the house
With nothing but a fine-tooth comb?
Leaving him with only the essentials and nothing else
I know I'm to blame,
Admitting that she is responsible for the situation
Well, ain't that a shame
Expressing regret and discontent
Bill Bailey won't you please come home.
Asking Bill Bailey to come back home
Bill drove by that door
Bill drove past her door
In an automobile,
In a car
A great big diamond, coach and footman
Bill had a large diamond and was accompanied by a coach and footman
Hear that lady squeal.
The lady let out a high-pitched scream
He's all alone
Bill was alone in the car
I heard her groan.
She made a sound indicating pain, discomfort or dissatisfaction
She hollered through the door
She yelled through the door
Bill Bailey, is you sore?
Asking Bill Bailey if he is upset
Stop a minute, listen to me
Asking Bill Bailey to stop and listen to her
Won't I see you no more?
Asking if she will never see Bill Bailey again
Bill winks his eye
Bill gave a quick, small smile with one of his eyes
As he heard her cry:
In response to her crying and pleas
Won't you come home, Bill Bailey
Asking Bill Bailey to come back home
Won't you come home?
Asking Bill Bailey to come back home
She moans the whole day long.
She cries and complains throughout the whole day
I'll do the cookin', darling
Offering to cook for Bill Bailey
I'll pay the rent,
Offering to pay the rent
I know I've done you wrong;
Admitting that she made a mistake
'member that rainy eve that
Remembering a specific evening when
I threw you out,
Kicking him out of the house
With nothing but a fine-tooth comb?
Leaving him with only the essentials and nothing else
I know I'm to blame,
Admitting that she is responsible for the situation
Well, ain't that a shame
Expressing regret and discontent
Bill Bailey won't you please come home.
Asking Bill Bailey to come back home
Lyrics © KENDOR MUSIC, INC.
Written by: . TRADITIONAL, LOUIS J FAGENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind