Billy Bayou
Jim Reeves · The Essential Jim Reeves [RCA Nashville/Legacy] [2006]
Back about eighteen hundred some
A Louisinan couple hade a redheaded son
No name suited him, Jim, Jack or Joe
They just called him Billy Bayou.
Chorus:
Billy, Billy Bayou watch where you go
Your walking on quicksand, walk slow.
Billy, Billy Bayou watch what you say
A pretty girl'll get you one of these days.
--- Instrumental ---
Billy was a boy kinda big for his size
Red hair and freckles and big blue eyes
Thirteen years form the day he was born
Bill fought the battle of the Little Big Horn.
Chorus:
Billy, Billy Bayou watch where you go
Your walking on quicksand, walk slow.
Billy, Billy Bayou watch what you say
A pretty girl'll get you one of these days.
--- Instrumental ---
One sad day billy cried ho! ho!
I can whip the fathers off of Geronmino
He smarted off, the cheif got mad
This nearly ended our Louisiana lad.
Chorus:
Billy, Billy Bayou watch where you go
Your walking on quicksand, walk slow.
Billy, Billy Bayou watch what you say
A pretty girl'll get you one of these days.
--- Instrumental ---
One day in eighteen-seventy-eight
A pritty girl walked through Bill's front gate
He did'nt know whether to stand there or run
He wound up marred 'cause he did eather one.
Chorus:
Billy, Billy Bayou watch where you go
Your walking on quicksand, walk slow.
Billy, Billy Bayou watch what you say
A pretty girl'll get you one of these days.
Pretty girl'll get you one of these days...
About Billy Bayou
Jim Reeves' "Billy Bayou" stands as a quintessential example of his smooth, crooning style that defined the late 1950s country and pop landscape. Recorded during his peak years, the track showcases his signature warm tone and delicate phrasing, delivering a tender ballad that became a staple of his discography. Featured on the comprehensive "The Essential Jim Reeves" compilation, the song reflects the era's emphasis on romantic storytelling and acoustic intimacy. Reeves' ability to blend country roots with pop sensibilities made him a beloved figure, and this recording captures that unique blend perfectly. The song remains a cherished piece of his catalog, illustrating the emotional depth and vocal control that earned him a lasting legacy in American music history.