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Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now) Lyrics
Well, I went down yonder in Louisville
Lived a cat named Big Bad Bill
I wants ta tell ya
Ah, the cat was rough and tough he would strut his stuff
Had the whole town scared to death
When he walked by, they all held their breath
He's a fightin' man, sure enough
And then Bill got himself a wife, now he leads a different life
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now
Married life done changed him somehow
He's the man the town used to fear
Now they all call him Sweet Papa Willy Dear
Stronger than Sampson I declare
'Til a brown-skinned woman's bobbed his hair
Big Bad Bill don't fight anymore (No, no, no)
He's doin the dishes an' moppin' up that floor (Yes he is)
Well he used to go out drinkin' lookin' for a fight
Now he gotta see that sweet woman every night
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now
Aw, play it boys
(Clarinet Solo)
Aw, yeah!
Whoo!
I likes that, yeah ("Yeah," say I)
Ah, y-well, Big Bad Bill don't fight anymore (No, he don't)
He's doin' the dishes 'n moppin' up that floor (Yes he is)
Well he used to go out drinkin' lookin' for a fight
Now he gotta see that sweet woman every night
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now (Doin' the dishes)
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now (Moppin' up that floor!)
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now
Cha!
Yeah!
Lived a cat named Big Bad Bill
I wants ta tell ya
Ah, the cat was rough and tough he would strut his stuff
Had the whole town scared to death
When he walked by, they all held their breath
He's a fightin' man, sure enough
And then Bill got himself a wife, now he leads a different life
Married life done changed him somehow
He's the man the town used to fear
Now they all call him Sweet Papa Willy Dear
Stronger than Sampson I declare
'Til a brown-skinned woman's bobbed his hair
He's doin the dishes an' moppin' up that floor (Yes he is)
Well he used to go out drinkin' lookin' for a fight
Now he gotta see that sweet woman every night
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now
I likes that, yeah ("Yeah," say I)
He's doin' the dishes 'n moppin' up that floor (Yes he is)
Well he used to go out drinkin' lookin' for a fight
Now he gotta see that sweet woman every night
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now (Moppin' up that floor!)
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now
Yeah!
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Ed and Al's dad, Jan Van Halen, playes the clarinet in this song. I read somewhere that he was nervous because he recently had lost a bit of a finger and had dentures.
I love the playful, laid-back feeling of this song. It's fun to listen to. Clearly about a tough guy who gets changed by his wife and mellows. I once swore to myself I'd never let a woman change me like that, yet now, there's a girl who's affected me more than I care to admit. It just isn't fair...