Billy The Bum
John Prine Lyrics


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Billy, the bum lived by the thumb
And sang of the hobo's delight
He'd prove he could run
Twice as fast as the sun
By losing his shadow at night
Now he loved every girl
In this curly headed world
But no one will know it seems
For two twisted legs and a childhood disease
Left Billy just a bum in his dreams

And he was just a gentle boy
A real fluorescent light
Cried pennies on Sunday morning
Laughs nickels on Saturday night
And your bullets, they can't harm him
Nor your knives tear him apart
Humiliation killed him
God bless his little heart

Now he lived all alone in a run down home
Near the side of the old railroad track
Where the trains used to run
Carryin' freight by the ton
Blow the whistle as Billy'd wave back
But the children around Billy's home town
Seemed to have nothin' better to do
Then run around his house
With their tongues from their mouth
Make fun of that crippled old fool

And he was just a gentle boy
A real fluorescent light
Cried pennies on Sunday morning
Laughs nickels on Saturday night
And your bullets, they can't harm him
Nor your knives tear him apart
Humiliation killed him
God bless his little heart

Now some folks they wait and some folks they pray
For Jesus to rise up again
But none of these folks in their holy cloaks
Ever took Billy on as a friend
For pity's a crime
And it ain't worth a dime
To a person who's really in need
Just treat 'em the same
As you would your own name
Next time that your heart starts to bleed

And he was just a gentle boy
A real fluorescent light
Cried pennies on Sunday morning
Laughs nickels on Saturday night
And your bullets, they can't harm him
Nor your knives tear him apart




Humiliation killed him
God bless his little heart

Overall Meaning

The song "Billy the Bum" by John Prine is a tragic story of a man who is looked down upon by society due to his physical disabilities. Billy is a hobo who loves to sing and charm every girl he meets but is never able to express his love because of his twisted legs and a childhood disease. He lives alone in a rundown home near the railroad track, where the trains used to carry freight by the ton, and he would wave back at them. The children in his hometown often make fun of him and run around his house singing and mocking him. The song talks about how he has been humiliated and how that humiliation has led to his death.


The lyrics are powerful and emotional, and they show how society's cruelty can impact a person's life. Billy's innocence is captured in the song's lyrics; he is described as a gentle boy who cried pennies on Sunday morning and laughed nickels on Saturday night. However, his disability and isolation from society led to his tragic end, and the song's narrator calls for people to treat everyone equally and with respect.


Line by Line Meaning

Billy, the bum lived by the thumb
Billy was a vagabond who lived a free life, without any particular plans or responsibilities.


And sang of the hobo's delight
Billy sang songs that glorified the lifestyle of a hobo, which he enjoyed living himself.


He'd prove he could run
Billy believed he was capable of great things.


Twice as fast as the sun
Billy had a vivid imagination that allowed him to envision impossible feats.


By losing his shadow at night
Billy believed that he could outrun the sun by running in the dark and losing his shadow behind him.


Now he loved every girl
Billy was a romantic who had a love for every girl he met.


In this curly headed world
Billy saw the world as a place filled with beautiful and unique people.


But no one will know it seems
Despite his love for women, Billy was lonely and unable to find a partner who reciprocated his affection.


For two twisted legs and a childhood disease
Billy suffered from physical disabilities and ailments that made him unappealing to others.


Left Billy just a bum in his dreams
Billy's physical limitations prevented him from achieving the life he dreamed of.


And he was just a gentle boy
Despite his outer appearance and image, Billy was a kind and gentle person.


A real fluorescent light
Billy's personality was vibrant and stood out in a crowd.


Cried pennies on Sunday morning
Billy was poor and struggled to make ends meet.


Laughs nickels on Saturday night
Despite his poverty, Billy found joy in life's simple pleasures.


And your bullets, they can't harm him
Billy was immune to the physical violence and harm that others could inflict on him.


Nor your knives tear him apart
Even though Billy was physically weak, he possessed a strong spirit that could not be broken by others.


Humiliation killed him
Billy eventually succumbed to the emotional pain caused by others who humiliated and mocked him.


God bless his little heart
Billy was a victim who deserved mercy and kindness.


Now he lived all alone in a run down home
Billy was isolated and lived in a rundown house, far away from others.


Near the side of the old railroad track
Billy was a transient and often chose to live near the railroad tracks, which represented freedom and adventure to him.


Where the trains used to run
Billy enjoyed the excitement and thrill of seeing the trains go by, even if he could no longer ride them.


Carryin' freight by the ton
The trains represented a way of life for Billy, where he could travel and see the world.


Blow the whistle as Billy'd wave back
Billy was friendly and would greet the train drivers as they went by.


But the children around Billy's home town
The local children were mean and cruel to Billy.


Seemed to have nothin' better to do
The children had no consideration for the feelings of others and only sought entertainment at the expense of others.


Then run around his house
The children would taunt Billy by running around his house and making a commotion outside.


With their tongues from their mouth
The children would stick out their tongues and make rude gestures towards Billy.


Make fun of that crippled old fool
The children would insult and humiliate Billy because of his physical disabilities and poverty.


Now some folks they wait and some folks they pray
Many people turn to religion for hope and salvation.


For Jesus to rise up again
These people believe in the return of Jesus Christ as the savior of humanity.


But none of these folks in their holy cloaks
Despite their religious fervor, many people are hypocritical and do not practice what they preach.


Ever took Billy on as a friend
None of these people who preached kindness and love were willing to offer friendship to Billy or help him in his time of need.


For pity's a crime
Some people believe that offering pity to others is a shameful act.


And it ain't worth a dime
Pity and sympathy are often seen as worthless and empty gestures.


To a person who's really in need
Those who are truly in need require more than just pity and sympathy, they require real help and kindness.


Just treat 'em the same
Rather than offering empty gestures or pity, it's important to offer dignity and respect to everyone.


As you would your own name
We should treat other people with the same kindness and respect we would want for ourselves and those we love.


Next time that your heart starts to bleed
When we see someone suffering or in need, we should take action and help them.




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