ADD: The Ballad of Perry Bell

Subject: Lyr Req: Lyrics to 'The Ballad of Perry Bell'
From: The Redneck
Date: 23 May 09 - 01:06 PM

This is the story of a guy who lived in Georgia. He went to Ozark, Alabama and got involved with a lady there and ultimately shot the sheriff was put in prison and died there.

I have been able to reconstruct all but one verse of the - long - song but can find that verse nowhere.

Can anybody help?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics to 'The Ballad of Perry Bell'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 May 09 - 09:34 AM

Please tell us everything you know about this song. Has anyone recorded it? Who? When? Is it based on a true story? Can we verify any of the facts? How did you hear of it? And please post the lyrics you already have.

My searches have turned up nothing. I can't even verify that such a song exists.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: GUEST,999
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 11:14 PM

Same here. Maybe s/he ain't comin' back?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: GUEST,Lee Flynn
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 10:24 AM

Thanks for checking further. It had almost slipped my mind that I had asked you for help.

This song caught my interest because I was born in Ozark and my mother used to sing this song to me. She doesn't remember the words. I have searched for the lyrics of "Perry Bell" and "The Ballad of Perry Bell" and I have racked my brain for years and have asked everybody I thought might know. Even the retired mayor of Ozark - He remembered seeing the newspaper report of this event but had no knowledge of the lyrics. I went to the Alabama State Archives in Montgomery - also no help. I used to play the guitar so I entered the chords so I wouldn't forget the melody.

Here is all I could come up with:


        PERRY BELL

D                                                         G                         D
WELL, COME ON YOU YOUNG PEOPLE AND LISTEN WHILE I TELL,
                                                                         A
THE STORY OF A YOUNG MAN, HIS NAME WAS PERRY BELL.
D                                                G                         D
ALSO THAT OF A SHERIFF, HIS NAME WE ALL KNOW WELL.
                                                                 A                        D
JUST HOW THEY MADE THEIR ACQUAINTANCE, IS VERY SAD TO TELL.


THE SHERIFF WAS DARK AND HANDSOME, PERRY BELL WAS FAIR AND GAY.

HIS HOME WAS UP IN GEORGIA, NOT VERY FAR AWAY.

BUT ON THAT FATAL MORNING, AS HE WAS LEAVING HOME.

LITTLE DID HE THINK THEN, THAT HE'D BE GONE SO LONG.


IT WAS ON ONE SUMMER'S EVENING, THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN.

THE SHERIFF HAD A SUMMONS TO GO OUT NORTH OF TOWN.

HE REACHED HIS DESTINATION, HE MADE HIS BUSINESS KNOWN.

HE SAID, "YOU ARE MY PRISONER, THE JAILHOUSE IS YOUR HOME."


AND SO HE MET THE STRANGER, OUT NEAR THE STRICKLAND FARM.

HE SAID, "WHY DO YOU WANT ME, I'VE SURELY DONE NO HARM".

THE SHERIFF WAS IN A HURRY, WITH BELL HE WOULD NOT AGREE,

AND IN ANOTHER INSTANT, HAD SHOT HIM TO HIS KNEE.


BUT AS YOUNG BELL WAS RISING, HE DREW HIS GERMAN GUN.

AND WHAT WAS DONE THAT INSTANT, CAN NEVER BE UNDONE.

HE KILLED THE OZARK SHERIFF THAT FATAL SUMMER NIGHT.

HE WOULD NOT HEED HIS PLEADING TO DO JUST WHAT WAS RIGHT.




AND SO THE TRAGEDY HAPPENED OUT ON THE ASBURY ROAD.

HE WAS A LONELY STRANGER, DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO MAKE HIS ABODE.

HE SCRAMBLED INTO A FARMHOUSE AND FELL ACROSS THE BED,

"I AM SO VERY WOUNDED, PLEASE BATHE MY ACHING HEAD".


THE OFFICERS, THEY ARRIVED SOON AND CARRIED HIM OFF TO JAIL.

FOR FIFTEEN MONTHS HE STAYED THERE WITHOUT A CHANCE FOR BAIL.

???        MISSING        ???

???        MISSING        ???

(The two above lines are no longer in my memory AND there might be another whole verse missing here.)


THE DOCTOR MADE HIS VISITS AROUND THE COUNTY JAIL.

HE FOUND HIM WOUNDED, BLEEDING, WITHOUT A CHANCE FOR BAIL.

HE DRESSED HIS WOUNDS SO CAREFUL, FOR HE WAS VERY MILD.

HOW WELL DID HE REMEMBER, T'WAS SOME DEAR MOTHER'S CHILD.


THEY HAD THEIR JURY PANELED, TO THEM THEY DID PROCLAIM.

SOME OF THEM SAID, "WE'LL PUNISH HIM", SOME SAID, "IT IS A SHAME".

AND SO THAT NOBLE JURY, THEY NEVER COULD AGREE

TO GIVE THIS MAN HIS FREEDOM, T'WAS MADNESS NOW YOU SEE.


AND TO THE LONELY WIDOW, I'LL SURELY WISH HER WELL,

I HOPE SHE'LL HOLD NO MALICE TOWARD YOUNG PERRY BELL

BUT POINT HIM TO THE SAVIOR WHO DOETH ALL THINGS WELL

HE SUFFERED MENTAL ANGUISH, NO HUMAN TONGUE CAN TELL.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BALLAD OF PERRY BELL
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 06:31 PM

I've reformatted your song to make it easier to read:


PERRY BELL

Well, come on, you young people, and listen while I tell
The story of a young man. His name was Perry Bell.
Also that of a sheriff, his name we all know well.
Just how they made their acquaintance is very sad to tell.

The sheriff was dark and handsome. Perry Bell was fair and gay.
His home was up in Georgia, not very far away.
But on that fatal morning, as he was leaving home,
Little did he think then that he'd be gone so long.

It was on one summer's evening, the sun was going down.
The sheriff had a summons to go out north of town.
He reached his destination. He made his business known.
He said, "You are my prisoner. The jailhouse is your home."

And so he met the stranger out near the Strickland farm.
He said, "Why do you want me? I've surely done no harm."
The sheriff was in a hurry. With Bell he would not agree,
And in another instant, had shot him to his knee.

But as young Bell was rising, he drew his German gun,
And what was done that instant, can never be undone.
He killed the Ozark sheriff that fatal summer night.
He would not heed his pleading to do just what was right.

And so the tragedy happened out on the Asbury Road.
He was a lonely stranger, didn't know where to make his abode.
He scrambled into a farmhouse and fell across the bed.
"I am so very wounded, please bathe my aching head."

The officers they arrived soon and carried him off to jail.
For fifteen months he stayed there without a chance for bail.
[At least 2 lines missing here.]

The doctor made his visits around the county jail.
He found him wounded, bleeding, without a chance for bail.
He dressed his wounds so careful, for he was very mild.
How well did he remember 'twas some dear mother's child.

They had their jury paneled. To them they did proclaim.
Some of them said, "We'll punish him." Some said, "It is a shame."
And so that noble jury, they never could agree.
To give this man his freedom 'twas madness now, you see.

And to the lonely widow, I'll surely wish her well.
I hope she'll hold no malice toward young Perry Bell,
But point him to the Savior who doeth all things well.
He suffered mental anguish, no human tongue can tell.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 07:14 PM

Sorry, my searches still turn up nothing.

However, now that your lyrics have been posted here, there's a chance that someone else will be searching for these lyrics and will find them here. Then maybe they will post some additional information.

Mudcat is a popular web site, and many people land here after searching for hard-to-find lyrics.

My advice is: check back here every few months to see if anything turns up.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: GUEST,unknown
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 02:16 PM

True Story.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 20 - 06:44 AM

Death Date: 7 Jan 1969

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: GUEST,#
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 11:06 AM

https://books.google.ca/books?id=cRMN264LscEC&pg=PA1860&lpg=PA1860&dq=killed+an+ozark+sheriff,+perry+bell&source=bl&ots=7O41Qi5f

Left-hand column:

Date County

W.E. McGowan, deputy sheriff killed by Perry N. Bell, alleged bootlegger May 13, 1924


Assuming it's the same Perry Bell, that will provide more info regarding the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: GUEST,#
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 11:13 AM

That should read Dale County, and that's located in Alabama.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jun 21 - 01:16 PM

Ballad of Perry Bell….it based on True Story. I’m the Grandson of Perry Bell.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: GUEST,#
Date: 15 Jun 21 - 03:57 PM

"Ballad of Perry Bell….it based on True Story. I’m the Grandson of Perry Bell."

Well, hello. Is there any chance you tell us what you recall about your grandfather?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 20 Jun 21 - 05:31 PM

THE PERRY BELL SONG

Oh! Come all you good people, And listen while I tell
The story of a young man, His name was Perry Bell.
Also that of a sheriff, His name you all know well,
Just how they made their acquaintance, Is very sad to tell.

The sheriff was dark and handsome, Young Bell was fair and gay, [in those days, 'gay' meant 'happy']
His home was up in Georgia, Not many miles away.
But on this summer morning, When he was leaving home,
But little did he think then, That he'd be gone so long.

But on this fatal evening, The sun was going down;
The sheriff had a summons, To go out north of town.
He reached his destination, He made his business known;
He says, you are my prisoner And the jail house is your home.

And so he met this stranger, out near the Strickland farm;
He says, why do you want me, I've surely done no harm.
The sheriff was in a hurry, With Bell he wouldn't agree;
And in another moment, had shot him to the knees.

And as young Bell was rising, He drew his German gun;
And what was done that instant, Can never be undone.
He killed the Ozark sheriff, This fatal summer night;
They would not heed his pleadings, To do just what was right.
And so this tragedy happened, Out on the Asbury Road;
He was a stranger, didn't know Just where to make his abode.
He crawled out to a farmhouse, and fell across the bed;
I am severely wounded, Please bathe my aching head.

The officers they arrived soon, and carried him off to jail;
For 15 months he stayed there without a chance for bail.
The sheriff, he was buried beneath the churchyard sod;
Their chimes went on before them Up to the throne of God.

The doctor made his visits, Around the county jail;
He found him wounded, bleeding, Without a chance for bail.
He dressed his wounds carefully, for he was very mild;
How well did he remember, ‘Twas some dear mother's child.

They had their jury paneled, To them they did proclaim;
Some of them says, We'll punish him, Some says, It is a shame.
And so this noble jury, They never could agree;
To give this man his freedom, 'Twas malice you can see.

All sheriffs all take warning, From Early McGowen's fate;
And if you're ever called out, be sure to hesitate.
But never shirk your duty, for this is your right you know;
But heed the cries of conscience, before you start to go.

You'll find my noble lawyers, in the precious Book of Truth;
The Savior did not win souls, with slander nor rebuke.
He preached with love and kindness;
He preached from shore to shore.
He whispered to the fallen, just go and sin no more.

And to the lonely widow, I surely wish her well.
I hope she holds no malice, toward young Perry Bell.
But point him to the Savior, Who does all things well.
His suffered mental anguish, No human tongue can tell.

If all the busy bodies, Would mind their own affairs;
They'd save many a heartache And many bitter tears.
When things does not concern you, Say, Oh! Leave them alone.
Up yonder you had better be thinking of your home.

And now to you, young prisoner; I'll say a word or two;
We know you feel discouraged And sometimes very blue.
But look up to the Savior, He'll cleanse you thru and thru.
Just lay your case before Him, He'll show you what to do.

The End— Composed by Mrs. H. K. Farmer, Pinchard, Alabama.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 21 - 03:40 PM

I have heard several different versions of this story about my Grandfather.
Growing up l have heard different versions. All l care to say is that our Family is very private. There’s other family members that would not like for me to share. Out of respect for them l will not go into details at this time.

However I can say My Grandfather turned his life around and lived for Christ for many years after that tragic day..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: GUEST,#
Date: 01 Jul 21 - 04:41 PM

I didn't mean to impose. What you have shared is just fine. Much appreciated, and thank you very much for responding.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Perry Bell
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Dec 21 - 09:24 PM

Yes... I have a hand written copy of the song... Bell did not go to prison.... he died at about age 68... please send your email address to [e-mail]