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Billy Lyrics
Where'd you find that trumpet, Billy
I said where'd you find that trumpet, Bill
He said I found it on some wasteland
Buried in the snow
How'd you learn to play it, William
How'd you learn to play it, Bill
He said I sat down on a doorstep
And practiced long and slow
I let my feelings show
I let my feelings show
Trumpets come, trumpets go
It's amazing what gets left out in the snow
I let my feelings show
I let my feelings show
Trumpets come, trumpets go
It's amazing what gets left out in the snow
I'm in love with Susan, Billy
I said I'm in love with Susan, Bill
Her smile is like a fairground
I'm basking in the glow
I got no gift for music, William
I got no gift for music, Bill
He said sing a song of sixpence
Steady as you go
Let your feelings show
Let your feelings show
Trumpets come, trumpets go
It's amazing what gets left out in the snow
Let your feelings show
Let your feelings show
Trumpets come, trumpets go
It's amazing what gets left out in the snow
Tell me all your secrets, Billy
I said tell me all your secrets, Bill
Lead me to your doorstep
There's so much I don't know
I'm in love with Susan, Billy
I said I'm in love with Susan, Bill
Her smile is like a fairground
I'm basking in the glow
Let your feelings show
Let your feelings show
I said where'd you find that trumpet, Bill
He said I found it on some wasteland
Buried in the snow
How'd you learn to play it, Bill
He said I sat down on a doorstep
And practiced long and slow
I let my feelings show
Trumpets come, trumpets go
It's amazing what gets left out in the snow
I let my feelings show
Trumpets come, trumpets go
It's amazing what gets left out in the snow
I said I'm in love with Susan, Bill
Her smile is like a fairground
I'm basking in the glow
I got no gift for music, Bill
He said sing a song of sixpence
Steady as you go
Let your feelings show
Trumpets come, trumpets go
It's amazing what gets left out in the snow
Let your feelings show
Trumpets come, trumpets go
It's amazing what gets left out in the snow
I said tell me all your secrets, Bill
Lead me to your doorstep
There's so much I don't know
I said I'm in love with Susan, Bill
Her smile is like a fairground
I'm basking in the glow
Let your feelings show
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Not the easiest to interpret but as my name is Bill and I'm a big Prefab Sprout song I thought I would give it a go. The lyrics are deliberately 'off the wall' and suggestive, in the same way that some of Morrissey's are.
The trumpet in the snow is a symbol for things appearing randomly. I think there is an element here of 'blowing your own trumpet' from Billy, possibly because Susan is his or may be on her way to being his and he is proud of this. This is likely to be why the singer, who is in love with Susan himself, wants to know his secrets, though he does it in a way that is undeliberate, like something being left out in the snow.
'Music' could be a symbol for love here - the singer may be aware of some inadequacies of his own here as he says he has no gift for music. Billy merely gives an evasive and dismissive answer here - but Billy has 'practiced long and hard' himself at music/ love, which may be why he may have or be more likely to get Susan.
Further to my comment, I meant of course 'Prefab Sprout fan' rather than 'Prefab Sprout song'.