Ballad of Billy the Kid
Billy Joel
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From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia Rode a boy with a six gun in his hand And his daring life of crime made him a legend in his time east and west of the Rio Grande. Well he started with a bank in Colorado in the pocket of his vest, a Colt he hid and his age and his size took the teller by surprise and, the word spread of Billy the kid Well he never travelled heavy yes he always rode alone and he soon put many older guns to shame and he never had a sweetheart and he never had a home but the cowboy and the rancher knew his name Well he robbed his way from Utah to Oklahoma and the largest could not seem to track him down and it served his legend well For the folks they loved to tell about When Billy the kid came to town Well one cold day a posse captured Billy and the judge said "String him up for what he did" And the cowboys and their kin like the sea, came pouring in to watch the hanging of Billy the kid. Well he never travelled heavy yes he always rode alone and he soon put many older guns to shame and he never had a sweetheart but he finally found a home under the boothill grave that bears his name. From a town known as Oyster Bay Long Island Rode a boy with a six pack in his hand and his daring life of crime made him a legend in his time east and west of the Rio Grande
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Written by: BILLY JOEL
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Origin"Ballad of Billy the Kid" is an epic song by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released in 1973 on his album "Piano Man."
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Song InspirationDespite its title, "Ballad of Billy the Kid" is not a traditional folk ballad about the famous outlaw Billy the Kid. The song is instead a romanticized version of Billy Joel's experiences growing up in Long Island and his early music career.
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Song CompositionBeing one of Billy Joel's more theatrical songs, "Ballad of Billy the Kid" is arranged with a grand introduction and finale featuring a full orchestra. It's one of a few Billy Joel songs that does not include a piano part.
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Song Fact - Factual InaccuracyThe song is notable for historical inaccuracies, like when Joel sings about Billy the Kid dying in a gunfight, when in fact, Billy the Kid was shot in the dark by Sheriff Pat Garrett.
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Song Fact - Fictional CharacterThe character of the bartender mentioned in the song, "Billy" is actually fictional and serves as a stand-in for Joel himself.
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Album SuccessThe album "Piano Man" which features "Ballad of Billy the Kid" was a commercial success and established Joel's career after his first album, "Cold Spring Harbor," failed to gain traction.
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Live Performances"Ballad of Billy the Kid" has been a popular part of Billy Joel's concert repertoire and has featured on several of his live albums.
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MisinterpretationDespite being about Billy Joel's own experiences, many listeners have misinterpreted "Ballad of Billy the Kid" as a song about the famous outlaw.
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Song LengthAt nearly six minutes long, "Ballad of Billy the Kid" is one of Joel's longer songs.
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Song VariationsThe song has been performed in different arrangements, sometimes with a full orchestra and sometimes with just Joel at his piano.
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Citation
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"Ballad of Billy the Kid Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/593773/Billy+Joel/Ballad+of+Billy+the+Kid>.
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