Billy Bayou
Roger Miller
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Back about eighteen hundred and some A louisiana couple had a redheaded son No name suited him, jim, jack or joe So they just called him billy bayou Billy, billy bayou, watch where you go You're walking on quicksand, walk slow Billy, billy bayou, watch what you say A pretty girl'll get you one of these days Now bill was a boy kind of big for his size (..kinda big boy size) Red hair and freckles, and big blue eyes Thirteen years from the day he was born Bill fought the battle of the little big horn Billy, billy bayou, watch where you go You're walking on quicksand, walk slow Billy, billy bayou, watch what you say A pretty girl'll get you one of these days Now one sad day billy cried "ho! ho! I whipped the feathers off of geronimo" (i could whip..) He smarted off, the chief got mad This like to ended our louisiana lad (that likely ended..) Billy, billy bayou, watch where you go You're walking on quicksand, walk slow Billy, billy bayou, watch what you say A pretty girl'll get you one of these days And one day in eighteen seventy-eight A pretty girl walked through bill's front gate He didn't know whether to stand there or run He wound up married 'cause he did neither one Billy, billy bayou, watch where you go You're walking on quicksand, walk slow Billy, billy bayou, watch what you say A pretty girl'll get you one of these days
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Written by: ROGER MILLER
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Release Data"Billy Bayou" was released in 1958 on the album "Songs to Warm the Heart" by Jim Reeves.
|
SongwriterThe song "Billy Bayou" was written by an iconic country singer-songwriter, Roger Miller.
|
Chart PerformanceThe song managed to reach number 1 on the US Country chart (Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart) in 1959.
|
Genre"Billy Bayou" is mainly classified under the genres of country and Nashville sound.
|
Cover versionsIn addition to Jim Reeves, "Billy Bayou" was also recorded by several other country musicians, such as Red Sovine.
|
LabelThe song was released under the label RCA Victor.
|
InfluenceJim Reeves's rendition of "Billy Bayou" helped to inspire a more mellow, smooth style of country music that contrasted with the raw sounds of honky-tonk country.
|
Posthumous SuccessEven after the death of Jim Reeves in a plane crash in 1964, his songs including "Billy Bayou" continued to chart well.
|
RecognitionWriter Roger Miller won a Grammy Award in 1965 for his songwriting work but this was mainly for his song "Dang Me", not "Billy Bayou".
|
Music VideoUnfortunately, "Billy Bayou" does not have an official music video due to it being released in an era prior to the music video boom.
|
Musical StyleThe song is notable for its up-tempo, catchy melody and folksy, narrative lyrics, which paint a vivid picture of the Southern United States.
|
Influence of Roger MillerRoger Miller, the songwriter for "Billy Bayou", would go on to have a substantial country music career of his own, including hits like "King of the Road".
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Billy Bayou Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/29146934/Roger+Miller/Billy+Bayou>.
Discuss the Billy Bayou Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In