The band's 2003 album Up All Night reached the top five of the Australian Albums Chart, it achieved double platinum status and won four ARIA Awards in October. Two further top five albums were issued, Sun Dirt Water in 2007 and Temptation in 2011. The Waifs have three top fifty singles, "London Still" (2002), "Bridal Train" (2004) and "Sun Dirt Water". The band supported Bob Dylan on his 2003 Australian tour and then his 2003 North American tour, including a gig at the Newport Folk Festival.
The Waifs founded the independent label Jarrah Records in July 2002, co-owned with fellow musician John Butler, and their common manager Phil Stevens, which handles their Australian releases.
Billy Jones
The Waifs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just me and Billy Jones always hanging around
He was a Mumma's little boy, he was an only child
His clothes were always neat and his hair carefully styled
All the games we'd play I couldn't understand why
I'd have to play the groom and let Billy be the bride
All those pretty dresses that he's love to wear
He'd even wear my underwear and put flowers in his hair
A few years later you know we kinda drifted apart
My family moved south to make a new start
I missed Billy, Mum said that was wrong
Dad said "That boy just don't know where he belongs"
Where does he belong?
A few years later I was working in a bar
It was smoky and dark, there was a blues man playing guitar
When in walked a woman wearing emerald green
With a voluptuous figure, she was beautiful and lean
She was looking pretty mean
A full martini shaken not stirred
It was only until about after her third
I started looking closely, man I should have known!
It was my old friend, you guessed it, Billy Jones
Oh my god Billy Jones!
Oh shit Billy Jones!
Tears filled our eyes as we began to speak
He'd been living a lie, a life so discreet
It made me feel sad to hear him say
In a voice so sweet "Honey you can call me Jane"
As the night wore on we spoke of yesterday
And how Billy has always known that he was gay
I never knew how much a person could change
From little Billy Jones to lean, luscious Jane
Billy Jane Jones this comes from my heart
I hope your nights are filled with a thousand stars
But don't waste your sweetness in the empty air
Cause you don't know how cold and dark it is out there
This is the ballad of Billy Jane Jones
The Waifs’ “Billy Jones” is a heartwarming yet emotional song about a man named Billy Jones who grew up in an urban town with the singer, where they often played games together. However, some of these games involved Billy dressing in feminine clothing, which the singer didn't fully understand. Eventually, the singer and his family moved away, and he lost touch with Billy. Years later, while working at a bar, the singer encounters a woman who he soon realizes is his old friend Billy in disguise. Billy had been living life as a discreet gay man, and his transformation from a little boy with carefully styled clothes and flowers in his hair to the lean, luscious Jane was profound.
Line by Line Meaning
Well we grew up together in an urban town
The author and Billy Jones grew up together in a city.
Just me and Billy Jones always hanging around
The author and Billy Jones spent a lot of time together.
He was a Mumma's little boy, he was an only child
Billy Jones was close to his mother and didn't have siblings.
His clothes were always neat and his hair carefully styled
Billy Jones was well-groomed and took care of his appearance.
All the games we'd play I couldn't understand why
The author was confused by the games Billy Jones wanted to play.
I'd have to play the groom and let Billy be the bride
Billy Jones wanted to play dress-up and be the bride.
All those pretty dresses that he's love to wear
Billy Jones loved wearing dresses.
I'd wear a floppy hat Billy he'd put flowers in his hair
While the author wore a hat, Billy Jones put flowers in his hair.
He'd even wear my underwear and put flowers in his hair
Billy Jones even wore the author's underwear and put flowers in his hair.
A few years later you know we kinda drifted apart
The author and Billy Jones grew apart as they got older.
My family moved south to make a new start
The author's family moved to the southern part of the country.
I missed Billy, Mum said that was wrong
The author's mother didn't think it was right for him to miss Billy Jones.
Dad said "That boy just don't know where he belongs"
The author's father didn't understand Billy Jones.
Where does he belong?
The author wonders where Billy Jones fits in.
A few years later I was working in a bar
The author started working in a bar.
It was smoky and dark, there was a blues man playing guitar
The bar was dimly lit with a live blues performance.
When in walked a woman wearing emerald green
A woman entered the bar wearing green.
With a voluptuous figure, she was beautiful and lean
The woman had a curvy, attractive figure.
She was looking pretty mean
The woman appeared angry or upset.
A full martini shaken not stirred
The woman ordered a full martini that was shaken, not stirred.
It was only until about after her third
The woman had several martinis.
I started looking closely, man I should have known!
The author realized the woman was Billy Jones.
It was my old friend, you guessed it, Billy Jones
The woman was really Billy Jones.
Oh my god Billy Jones!
The author is surprised to see Billy Jones as a woman.
Oh shit Billy Jones!
The author is shocked by Billy Jones's transformation.
Tears filled our eyes as we began to speak
The author and Billy Jones cried and spoke to each other.
He'd been living a lie, a life so discreet
Billy Jones had been living secretly and lying about who he was.
It made me feel sad to hear him say
The author was upset by what Billy Jones told him.
In a voice so sweet "Honey you can call me Jane"
Billy Jones wanted to be called Jane, not Billy.
As the night wore on we spoke of yesterday
The author and Billy Jones talked about the past as the night continued.
And how Billy has always known that he was gay
Billy Jones had known for a long time that he was gay.
I never knew how much a person could change
The author was surprised by how much Billy Jones had changed.
From little Billy Jones to lean, luscious Jane
Billy Jones had transformed from a small boy to a curvy woman.
Billy Jane Jones this comes from my heart
The author speaks to Billy Jones, now Jane, from his heart.
I hope your nights are filled with a thousand stars
The author wishes Jane a happy and fulfilled life.
But don't waste your sweetness in the empty air
The author advises Jane not to waste her time and energy.
Cause you don't know how cold and dark it is out there
The author warns Jane that the world can be a cruel and lonely place.
This is the ballad of Billy Jane Jones
The song is a tribute to Billy Jones, who is now Jane.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bodhi Sattva
Billy Jones!! Billy Jonesss!!!!.....please?!! Lol!