Ain’t it a shame, and a measly shame

voiceCollected by Irene Carlisle Transcribed by Nathaniel Lucy Sung by T. M. Davis Fayetteville, Arkansas April 10, 1951 Reel 107, Item 6 Bill Bailey T. M. Davis: I’m going to try to sing one version of “Bill Bailey”. I don’t know what- how it will be. On a dark and stormy night When the rain was falling fast Bill Bailey told his lady love The dream of love had passed He said no more, just slammed the door But he wandered ‘round in town And he didn’t have a cent He thought about his pork chops And back to the house he went And passersby could hear Bill cry Chorus: Ain’t it a shame, and a measly shame To leave your honey out in the rain Oh- you open that door and let me in I’m a-sitting here freezing, my clothes are spent He stood there at the door All the whole night long He cried, “Oh Momma, won’t you let me in Cuz I knowed that I’d done wrong I’ll prove it see, please whisper it to me” But a bass voice from inside Answered from the door “Just hunt you another hay pile Bill Cuz you don’t roost here no more” And passersby could hear Bill cry Chorus: Ain’t it a shame, and a measly shame To leave your honey out in the rain Oh, take a little pity won’t you open that door and let me in I’m standing here freezing wet to the skinFunding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation