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Billy The Bum

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Tuning: Standard
[Intro]
Bb F
F C F
[Verse 1]
FBilly the bum lived by the thumb and sang of the hobo's deClight
He'd Cprove he could run twice as fast as the sun
By losing his shadow at Fnight
Now he Floved every girl in this curly headed world
But no one will know it Bbseems
For Bbtwo twisted legs and a Fchildhood disease
Left CBilly just a bum in his Fdreams
[Chorus]
And Bbhe was just a Fgentle boy, a Creal florescent Flight
Cried Bbpennies on Sunday Fmorning, laughed nickels on Saturday Cnight
And your Fbullets they can't harm him, nor your knives tear him aBbpart
HuBbmiliation Fkilled him, God Cbless his little Fheart
[Verse 2]
Now he Flived all alone in a run down home
Near the side of the old railroad Ctrack
Where the Ctrains used to run, carrying freight by the ton
And blow the whistle as Billy'd wave Fback
But the Fchildren around Billy's home town
Seemed to have nothin' better to Bbdo
Than Bbrun around his house with their Ftongues from their mouth
And make Cfun of that cripped old Ffool
[Chorus]
And Bbhe was just a Fgentle boy, a Creal florescent Flight
Cried Bbpennies on Sunday Fmorning, laughed nickels on Saturday Cnight
And your Fbullets they can't harm him, nor your knives tear him aBbpart
HuBbmiliation Fkilled him, God Cbless his little Fheart
[Verse 3]
Now Fsome folks a-wait and some folks a-pray
For Jesus to rise up aCgain
But Cnone of these folks in their holy cloaks
Ever took Billy on as a Ffriend
For Fpity's a crime and it ain't worth a dime
To a person who's really in Bbneed
Just Bbtreat 'em the same as you Fwould your own name
Next Ctime that your heart starts to Fbleed
[Chorus]
For Bbhe was just a Fgentle boy, a Creal florescent Flight
Cried Bbpennies on Sunday Fmorning, laughed nickels on Saturday Cnight
And your Fbullets they can't harm him, nor your knives tear him aBbpart
HuBbmiliation Fkilled him, God Cbless his little Fheart
All chords in this song (3)

The story behind the song

John Prine was a singer-songwriter known for his blend of humorous lyrics with social commentary, as well as sweet songs and melancholy ballads. He learned guitar at 14 and began writing songs as a hobby while working as a mailman. "Billy The Bum" is a song from his early career, appearing on the 1972 release Diamonds in the Rough. It plays like a character study, inviting you to embody the spirit of its subject.

AI-written from these sources:John Prine — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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About Billy The Bum Chords by John Prine

Learn how to play Billy The Bum by John Prine with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Billy The Bum chords”, “Billy The Bum guitar chords”, or “John Prine Billy The Bum chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Billy The Bum chords and for experienced players who want accurate Billy The Bum lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Bb, F, C.

FAQ — Billy The Bum by John Prine

How do I play "Billy The Bum" by John Prine on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Billy The Bum" by John Prine on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Billy The Bum" by John Prine free?

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Can I transpose "Billy The Bum" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Billy The Bum" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Billy The Bum"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Billy The Bum" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Billy The Bum" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Billy The Bum" by John Prine with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by John Prine below.

What key is "Billy The Bum" in?

The chords for "Billy The Bum" show the original chord names (including Bb, F, C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.