Murphy served in the Navy during World War II, during which time he played and recorded with Lu Watters and Bunk Johnson, among others. In 1952 he headed his own band, consisting of himself, Wally Rose playing piano, Bob Helm playing clarinet, Dick Lammi strumming the banjo, and Bob Short with a tuba.
In '79, now famous horn man Bob Schultz was asked by Turk Murphy to join him, and stayed with the band for eight years. The band broke up with the death of Turk Murphy in 1987, not long after one of the highest points in Turk Murphy's career, a stellar performance at Carnegie Hall in January of that year.
Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home
Turk Murphy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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,
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:
Turk Murphy's song "Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home" is about a woman asking her lover, Bill Bailey, to forgive her and return home. She expresses remorse for throwing him out on a rainy evening with nothing but a fine-tooth comb, and promises to pay the rent and cook for him. The woman moans the entire day long and pleads for Bill to come home. One day, Bill drives by her doorstep in an automobile with a great big diamond, coach, and footman. The woman hears the commotion and starts squealing, hoping to get his attention. She hollers through the door, asking if Bill is upset and if he will no longer see her. Bill winks his eye as he hears her cry and drives away, leaving her heartbroken.
The song is an example of early jazz music and was originally recorded in 1953 by the Turk Murphy Jazz Band. The lyrics were written by Hughie Cannon in 1902 and have been covered by various artists over the years, including Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. The song was particularly popular during the ragtime era, which spanned from the late 1890s to the early 1910s.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you come home, Bill Bailey
The woman is pleading with Bill to come back home.
Won't you come home?
She wants Bill to return home and be with her again.
She moans the whole day long.
The woman is unhappy and sad because Bill isn't with her.
I'll do the cookin', darling
The woman is willing to take care of Bill.
I'll pay the rent,
The woman is willing to provide for Bill financially.
I know I've done you wrong;
The woman admits to making mistakes that caused their separation.
'member that rainy eve that
The woman is reminiscing about a past event.
I threw you out,
The woman kicked Bill out of their home in the past.
With nothing but a fine-tooth comb?
Bill was forced to leave with almost nothing.
I know I'm to blame,
The woman is taking responsibility for her actions.
Well, ain't that a shame
The woman is expressing regret and sadness over her past actions.
Bill Bailey won't you please come home.
The woman is pleading with Bill to come back home.
Bill drove by that door
Bill arrived at their door and is nearby.
In an automobile,
Bill arrived in a car.
A great big diamond, coach and footman
Bill is wealthy and has a luxurious lifestyle.
Hear that lady squeal.
The woman is excited to see Bill but also nervous about his reaction.
He's all alone
Bill arrived alone without anyone else.
I heard her groan.
The woman made a noise indicating her distress or pain, perhaps due to the past events.
She hollered through the door
The woman yelled to get Bill's attention.
Bill Bailey, is you sore?
The woman is concerned that Bill is still upset about the past events.
Stop a minute, listen to me
The woman is requesting Bill to hear her out.
Won't I see you no more?
The woman is worried that Bill won't come back again.
Bill winks his eye
Bill communicates to the woman through a gesture that everything is alright.
As he heard her cry:
Bill is aware of the woman's emotions and feelings.
Chorus:
The chorus repeats the woman's plea for Bill to come back home.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: HUGHIE CANNON, KIRBY SHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Clancy Hayes Jazz
What a wonderful example of how superb and joyful jazz can be. To see Turk and Kid Ory performing together is a real treat, as is the appearance of Emma Barrett and Johnny ST. Cyr not forgetting the rest of the Turk Murphy Jazz Band. A million thanks.
John Lilliendahl Larsen
Saw them live 1966. What a treat!
Tom Smith
What a fantastic band! I love Dixieland!
Janek Tabaczek
I to ;) fantastic music to dance,song and Playing.
Janek Tabaczek
Greetings from Poland, City Lubaczów 🇵🇱
Tom Smith
@Janek Tabaczek Nice to meet you! Greetings to you from Canada!
FCB1975
Excellent! Great band!
Sandy Macpherson
As a kid, my elder brother had a huge collection of 78rpm records and Turk Murphy's jazz band was among my favourites. Fast forward 65 years and as I'm getting ready gasp my last, by the magic of the internet, I can suddenly see them in action. How good is that?
John Derby
Very nice group playing an old standard!!! A treat!!!
Malo tonga
I love anything with brass sounds great.