Billy ran around with the rare old crew. And he knew an arsenal from Tottenham blue We'd be a darn sight better off if we knew Where Billy's bones are resting now Billy saw a copper and he hit hime in the knee Took him down from six foot to five foot three Then he hit him fair and square in the do-re-me That copper won't be having any family Hey Billy son where are you now, don't you know that we Need you now With aratata and the old kow-tow where are Billy's bones Resting now Billy went away with the peace keeping force cause he Liked a bloddy good fight of course Went away in an old khaki van to the banks of the river Jordan Billy saw the Arabs and he had'em on the run when he got'em In the range of his sub machine gun Then he got the Israelis in his sights, went ra-ta-ta And they ran like Shi-ites Hey Billy Son where are you now, One night Billy had a rare old time, laughing and singing on The Lebanon line Came back to camp not looking too pretty never even got To see the Holy City Now Billy's out there in the desert sun and his mother cries When the morning comes And there's mother's crying all over the world, for their poor Dead darling boys and girls Hey Billy son where are you now, Born on a Monday, married on a Tuesday, Drunk on a Wednesday, got plugged on a Thursday, sick on a Friday, Died on a Saturday, buried on Sunday


Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Billy's Bones Lyrics as written by Shane Patrick Lysaght Macgowan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Billy's Bones (The Pogues cover) song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • 0
    General CommentI think this song is about young men fighting in a war, and how tragic it is. I think it is a great song, and more people should comment on it. My favorite part is when it goes, "And there's mothers crying all over the world for their poor dead darling boys and girls." It is a great line and shows how tragic young people dying in war is.
    Madcappunkon April 07, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commentit's a pogues song written by their singer shane macgowan who many see as one of the greatest songwriters ever.

    like all of shane's songs, there is a lot of meaning behind it. if you want the full story go to poguetry.com and go to the 'rum, sodomy, and the lash' album.

    anyway, it's got crap to do with war like madcappunk said.
    goodbaron June 20, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThe word's 'shite.' It's the Irish pronunciation of shit. The song has fuckall to do with the shi-ites.
    razieldumason April 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSorry Goodbar but the meaning at poguetry.com is also far off.

    This song is obviously about football hooliganism. Tottenham supporters refer to themselfs has "yids", "Israelites" and "jews" because the club has a large Jewish following and some original owners/creators were Jews. Tottenham also has a fierce rivalry with Arsenal.

    poopiepeopleon August 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment*themselves
    poopiepeopleon August 14, 2009   Link

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