The Death of Bill Bailey

The death of Bill Bailey was no surprise to me
If you knew him like I knew him, 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, it 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'd work 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