Early life and career
Peggy Scott-Adams grew up as a child from a very small typical town of Opp in Alabama. Throughout her early career, Peggy Scott toured with Ben E. King as a teenager and hit the Top 40 three times as a duet act with Jo Jo Benson back in the 1960s. She came back strong in the late 1990s after decades of inactivity with the top-seller song called "Bill," a wildly popular contemporary blues song about a story of a woman whose man has been fooling around --- with another man.
Not long after that, Peggy Scott had been out of the music business since the late 1960s, and subsequently she was working as a lounge singer in Pensacola, Florida until she moved to California and married a Compton city commissioner in 1988. She was then persuaded to return to the studio by singer/songwriter/producer, Jimmy Lewis. With his guidance, they recorded her solo debut album called Help Yourself released on October 22, 1996.
Solo career
One of the Jimmy Lewis songs was a novelty track which twisted the common complaint of a wife keeping her man faithful. The twist was that her man had romantic and sexual desires for another man. This complaint is more commonplace today. Released as a single the song, "Bill", initially just to blues radio stations, it also began getting airplay on Urban contemporary radio and soon gained most-requested status at several larger stations. It peaked at #87 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video to "Bill" also became popular. The album, "Help Yourself" began selling well, making The Billboard 200 albums chart peaking at #72, #48 on the R&B chart and #1 on the Top Blues Albums chart.
The release of "Contagious" later in 1997 also featured a socially conscious hit single called, Spousal Abuse which tackle the issue of domestic abuse in relationships. Her third album Undisputed Queen released in 1999, was not quite as strong overall, but it did have its moments.
Scott-Adams continued to sing audacious soul blues in the year 2000 with Live in Alabama & More which featured the ballad, "When I'm With You" and the funky dance track, "Sweaty Men." Both singles became hits. The album Hot & Sassy became her strongest since Help Yourself, featuring such hit singles as "Mr. Right Or Mr. Wrong", "If I'm Still Not Married" and "Your Divorce Has Been Denied."
Her fifth album, Busting Loose was released in 2003. It featured the audacious lead single, If You Wanna Hear Me Holler, Lick Me Up Some Dollars. In 2006, she released her first Gospel album entitled God Can, And He Will. It received positive reviews and was also well received by her fanbase. A few years later, Adams returned with her sophomore gospel album, titled, "Back To The Roots." She issued the album on July 7, 2009, on her own label, Nora Records.
Bill
Peggy Scott-Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girls, I'm about to tell you something You may wanna know
You know things they're not always
What they appear to be
And I don't want to happen to you
What happened to me
Listen, There are no words that can describe, what I felt inside
We were at a party, Ohh to have a little fun
But when I looked around my-my man was missing
I walked outside, I couldn't believe my eyes
He was in Bill's arms breathin hard and french kissin
I was ready for Mary, Susan, Helen and Jane
When all the time it was Bill who was sleeping with my man
Bill has been to my house a thousand times
He and my man would go camping and fishing
Oh I tell you it never crossed my mind
Bill was a friend and he was God Uncle to my only son
Now it looks Uncle Billy wants to be his step-mom
Now you see I was ready for Mary, I was ready for Jane
How do a woman compete with a man for another man
I asked my man why didnt you tell me that you were gay
when you knew, knew I build my world around you
I knew I had those feelings and I didn't want it to be
I thought by being with you, Girl I thought it would change
As tears came to my eyes, hesays I'm sorry I hurt you so
I got to pack Bill is waiting for me and I got to go
I was ready for Mary, I was ready for Jane
When all the time it was Bill who was sleeping with my man
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I don't feel ashame and I don't take the blame
My man was just a queen, he was a Queen that thought he was a King
He told before he left he said
I know you're hurt and oh I know you're mad
But if that's not asking too much,
could you tell my son I love him and I'm still his dad
I was ready for Mary, Susan, Helen and Jane
When all the time it was Bill who was sleeping with my man
I was ready for Mary, Susan, Helen and Jane
When all the time it was Bill who was sleeping with my man
Bill used to come over to my house, I used to fix him my food
I used to loan Bill my money, all the time he was in there tryin' to get
my honey
In Peggy Scott-Adams’s song "Bill," she speaks directly to women, warning them that things aren't always what they seem. She shares her heartache as she found out the man she thought she loved was actually interested in men. Peggy’s man was hiding his sexuality from her, and at a party, she found him kissing another man, Bill. Peggy reveals that Bill was a close friend who had even been to her house many times, and he was the god uncle to her only son. Peggy had always considered Bill as a friend and had no idea that he was sleeping with her man. She had no experience with this situation and admitted that she was ready for women like Mary, Susan, Helen, and Jane, but she didn’t know how to compete with another man. When Peggy asked her man why he didn’t tell her the truth, he begged for forgiveness and left to be with Bill, asking only that Peggy would tell their son that he still loved him and would always be his dad.
The song provides insight into the pain of discovering that someone you love is not the person you thought they were. Relationships can be complex and may not always fit societal norms. Peggy offers a message of hope for women who may find themselves in similar situations, reminding them that they are not alone.
Line by Line Meaning
All of you ladies out there turn up your radio
Listen up, ladies, I have a story to share with you.
Girls, I'm about to tell you something You may wanna know
Ladies, what I have to say may interest you.
You know things they're not always
What they appear to be
Something may not seem as it is, so be careful.
And I don't want to happen to you
What happened to me
I don't want you to experience what I went through.
Listen, There are no words that can describe, what I felt inside
When I found out the man I loved loved another guy
It's hard to express the feelings that overwhelmed me when I realized my man was in love with another man.
We were at a party, Ohh to have a little fun
But when I looked around my-my man was missing
We were partying, but then I noticed my man was nowhere to be seen.
I walked outside, I couldn't believe my eyes
He was in Bill's arms breathin hard and french kissin
When I went outside, I saw my man in a passionate embrace with Bill.
I was ready for Mary, Susan, Helen and Jane
When all the time it was Bill who was sleeping with my man
I thought my man was cheating on me with other women, but it turned out it was Bill who he was involved with.
Bill has been to my house a thousand times
He and my man would go camping and fishing
Bill was a close friend of ours and hung out with us often, even going on trips with my man.
Oh I tell you it never crossed my mind
Bill was a friend and he was God Uncle to my only son
Now it looks Uncle Billy wants to be his step-mom
I never suspected Bill could have any romantic interest in my man, especially since he was my son's godfather and now seems keen to take on a bigger role in his life.
I asked my man why didn't you tell me that you were gay
when you knew, knew I build my world around you
I asked my man why he didn't share with me that he was gay, especially since my whole world revolved around him.
I knew I had those feelings and I didn't want it to be
I thought by being with you, Girl I thought it would change
As tears came to my eyes, hesays I'm sorry I hurt you so
I got to pack Bill is waiting for me and I got to go
He admits he knew he was attracted to men but hoped being with me would change that. He apologizes for the pain he's caused, but he's leaving with Bill now.
I don't feel ashamed and I don't take the blame
My man was just a queen, he was a Queen that thought he was a King
I don't feel guilty or responsible for what happened because my man was a homosexual who believed he was a man's man.
He told before he left he said
I know you're hurt and oh I know you're mad
But if that's not asking too much,
could you tell my son I love him and I'm still his dad
He asks me to tell our son he loves him and will continue to be his father, even though he's leaving with Bill.
Bill used to come over to my house, I used to fix him my food
I used to loan Bill my money, all the time he was in there tryin' to get
my honey
I considered Bill a close friend and even treated him like family, unaware that he had other motives and was trying to steal my man.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JIMMY LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ericjones149
Still here at the end of 2023. This song didn’t get the recognition it deserves.
@earnestinehamilton9760
Oh so true ❤
@edunlap6594
Right? Still got the chills listening to this in '24❤
@sharteriadavis4537
Listening in 2024!
@lekijolo5584
Artist like her were backballed for singing about real life situations. There's a lot of Bills! And not the ones you have to pay! No matter how macho they appear. Be careful ladies. Its real out here!
@googleuser7454
my mother would say they have some "sugar in their tank" ...
@Lovlyb35
Peggy been telling the truth for the longest
@nightowl5674
💯💯💯
@TheTyesseReport
Peggy Scott-Adams (born Peggy Stoutmeyer) June 25, 1948 – March 27, 2023
Rest in Peace Peggy!!
@earnestinehamilton9760
I really don't no she has pass on R I P Peggy Scott Adams ❤