He was the lead singer of The Charioteers between 1930 and 1950, when he formed his own Billy Williams Quartet with Eugene Dixon, Claude Riddick and John Ball. Many appearances on TV followed, especially on Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar.
By the early 1960s he had lost his voice due to diabetes. He subsequently moved to Chicago and worked as a social worker until his death in 1972.
(2) Richard Isaac Banks (1878 - March, 1915), who changed his name to Billy Williams after leaving his birthplace of Australia, was one of the most recorded popular entertainers of his and indeed of all time. His recordings sold in their thousands long after his early death in 1915. Born in Melbourne, Williams tried a number of jobs before embarking on an entertainment career which led him to come to England in 1899.
He became a popular entertainer in the music halls singing what were known as chorus-songs - he also appeared in pantomime. It was in 1906 that Williams made his first recordings and from that date he recorded prolifically on cylinder and disc. In 1910, he returned for an extended tour of his native Australia where he was greeted with wild enthusiasm. Returning to England later in that year, he continued his business relationship with songwriter Fred Godfrey. The two had what might be described as a "song factory" and worked in partnership (although it is believed that Godfrey did all of the song writing).
The year 1912 seemed to be the zenith of Williams' career - he appeared in the first Royal Command Performance of that year and achieved glowing reviews in the national press. Sadly this fame was not to last as Williams became ill in late 1914 and died in Hove near Brighton in March 1915, the proximate cause being complications after an operation, but rumoured to be connected with "previous social excesses."
Goodnight Irene
Billy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Irene, goodnight
Goodnight, Irene
Goodnight, Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Dreams, dreams, dreams
Last Saturday night
Now me and my wife
Settled down
Oh, oh, oh
Now me and my wife
We are parted
I'm gonna another stroll downtown
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
I, Irene
A very good night
Nighty night to you
(Goodnight, baby)
I, Irene
I hope you sleep tight
(Take it easy, huh)
Goodnight, Irene
Goodnight, Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in downtown
Hey, sometimes I have a great notion
To jump in the river and drown
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
I, Irene
A very good night
Nighty night to you
(Sweet night, girl)
I, Irene
I hope you sleep tight
(Ah, you're something else)
Goodnight, Irene
Goodnight, Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Stop rambling
Stop your gambling
Stop staying out late at night
Go on home to your
Wife and your family
Sit down by the fireside bright
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
I, Irene
A very good night
Nighty night to you
(Oh, baby)
I, Irene
I hope you sleep tight
(You're killing me)
Goodnight, Irene
Goodnight, Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Goodnight, Irene
Goodnight, Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
The song "Goodnight Irene" tells the story of a man who is saying goodbye to his former lover, Irene. He repeats the phrase "goodnight, Irene" multiple times throughout the song, emphasizing that he is ready to move on and let her go. The man also mentions getting married, but then it becomes evident that he and his wife have separated, as he plans to take another stroll downtown. The lyrical shift between the man's happiness to his loneliness suggests that he is struggling to come to terms with the end of his marriage.
The final verse of the song provides advice to the listener, urging them to settle down and stop gambling and staying out late at night. The repetition of the phrase "goodnight, Irene" in the chorus suggests that the man is not actually ready to let go of his past relationship, as he hopes to see her again in his dreams. Overall, the song has a melancholic tone, conveying the idea that old wounds can be difficult to heal and that sometimes, it's hard to let go of a love that has passed.
Line by Line Meaning
Irene, goodnight
Saying goodnight to Irene
Irene, goodnight
Saying goodnight to Irene again
Goodnight, Irene
Wishing Irene a goodnight
Goodnight, Irene
Wishing Irene a goodnight again
I'll see you in my dreams
I will see Irene in my dreams
Dreams, dreams, dreams
Dreaming about Irene
Last Saturday night
Referring to last Saturday night
I got married
Got married, hitched
Now me and my wife
Referring to the subject and his wife
Settled down
Found a permanent home
Oh, oh, oh
Exclaiming in frustration
Now me and my wife
Referring to the subject and his wife again
We are parted
Separated from his wife
I'm gonna another stroll downtown
Going out for another walk from frustration or sadness
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Repeating affirmation or agreement
I, Irene
Referring to Irene
A very good night
Wishing Irene a very good night
Nighty night to you
Wishing Irene a goodnight
(Goodnight, baby)
Saying goodnight to Irene
I hope you sleep tight
Wishing Irene to have a tight, peaceful sleep
(Take it easy, huh)
Telling Irene to take it easy, relax
Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes, the subject lives in the rural area
Sometimes I live in downtown
At times, the subject lives in the city
Hey, sometimes I have a great notion
Sometimes, the subject has a great idea or a strong desire
To jump in the river and drown
To take one's own life by drowning in the river, suicidal intentions
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Excitement or specific intonation
I, Irene
Referring to Irene again
A very good night
Wishing Irene a very good night again
Nighty night to you
Wishing Irene a goodnight again
(Sweet night, girl)
Saying goodnight to Irene in a sweet way
I hope you sleep tight
Wishing Irene to have a tight, peaceful sleep again
(Ah, you're something else)
Complimenting Irene, saying she is unique
Stop rambling
Stop aimlessly wandering around
Stop your gambling
Stop gambling money
Stop staying out late at night
Stop staying out late at night
Go on home to your
Go home to your
Wife and your family
Referring to wife and family of the subject
Sit down by the fireside bright
Relax by the bright fireside
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Expressing agreement or excitement
I, Irene
Referring to Irene again
A very good night
Wishing Irene a very good night again
Nighty night to you
Wishing Irene a goodnight again
(Oh, baby)
Saying goodnight to Irene in an endearing way
I hope you sleep tight
Wishing Irene to have a tight, peaceful sleep again
(You're killing me)
Saying goodbye to Irene in a playful or flirty way
Goodnight, Irene
Wishing Irene a goodnight
Goodnight, Irene
Wishing Irene a goodnight again
I'll see you in my dreams
I will see Irene in my dreams again
Contributed by Savannah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.