the version we recorded in 1963 went like like this:

TELL OLD BILL

Tell old Bill when he comes home this mornin
Tell Old Bill when comes home this evenin
Tell Old Bill when he comes home to leave those downtown women alone
This mornin, this evenin, so soon

Bill's woman was bakin bread this mornin
Bills woman was breakin bread this evein
Bill's woman was bakin bread when they brought her the news that Bill was dead
this mornin, this,this evenin so soon

Oh no - it can't be so this mornin, Oh no - it can't be so this evenin
Oh no - it can't be so. I saw my Bill about an hour ago
This mornin,this evenin, so soon

They're bringin Bill home in a hurry-up wagon this mornin
They're bringin Bill home in a hurry-up wagon this evenin
They're bringin Bill home in a hurry-up wagon. Can't you see how his shoes are draggin?
This mornin, this evenin, so soon.

We're performing Old Bill when we do concerts these days and have changed one word in the first verse to what it probably was originally - "Downtown women" is now Damn white women" Because what probably got Bill in so much trouble in the first place!



     Joe Frazier - Chad Mitchell Trio