The death of Bill Bailey was no surprise to me
If you knew him like I knew
Then I know you would agree
His friends all saw it coming
They knew the end was near
I was taken by his cunning
Late in the autumn last year
News of his killing
Had traveled across this land
Folks said it was fortune
That he drew the dead man's hand
He was handsome as he was charming
Boy, he worked these mountain towns
'Til one night when the party ended
Bill Bailey was lying down
Many times I've cried
Since Bill Bailey died
He wasn't one to listen
And he couldn't take good advice
It's funny how I miss him
And the way he sung his songs
Bill Bailey was my friend
And then he done me wrong
I bought him a marble headstone
And I buried him in the cold
On a quiet winter's morning
As the sun shined like gold
A young and green-eyed woman
Appeared through the haze
She asked if I knew Bill Bailey
I just said, "All his debts had been paid."
