The 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 Inspiration"The Ballad of Billy the Kid" is inspired by the story of William H. Bonney Jr. also known as Billy the Kid, a notorious gunslinger and outlaw of the Wild West era.
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Album InclusionThe song is a part of Billy Joel's 1973 album "Piano Man," which is one of Joel's most successful albums from his early career.
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Creative LibertiesAlthough the song is based on the story of Billy the Kid, Joel has admitted that he took significant creative liberties with the historical facts for the sake of song storytelling.
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Song CompositionThe song is known for its orchestral arrangement, showcasing a flamenco guitar, harmonicas, and even tubular bells. This provides a dramatic and cinematic flavor to the song.
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Live PerformancesThis song frequently serves as the opening number in Billy Joel’s concerts and often includes an extended instrumental introduction.
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Autobiographical ElementsThough it's called "The Ballad of Billy the Kid," some parts of the song allude to Joel himself. The final verse references a "Billy" from Oyster Bay, Long Island, which is where Joel grew up.
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Musical SuccessDespite not being released as a single, the song has still achieved considerable airplay on classic rock radio stations, demonstrating its enduring appeal and popularity.
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Misinterpreted LyricsMany listeners initially mistaken the lines "From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia" as a factual claim about Billy the Kid. However, Billy the Kid was not from West Virginia but New Mexico. This highlights Joel's admitted departure from historical accuracy.
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Recorded Version and Live VersionThe version of the Song from the studio album is much shorter than the live performances, which often includes several additional minutes of instrumental introduction.
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Musical StyleThe song's style blends elements of folk and rock. The usage of different instruments and flamenco guitar gives the song a unique sound.
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Citation
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"The Ballad of Billy the Kid Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/8888695/Billy+Joel/The+Ballad+of+Billy+the+Kid>.
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