LAMENT FOR WILD BILL 121311 - I PLAY C

James Michael Taylor

LAMENT FOR WILD BILL in C - Capo @ 3

The moon shone like diamonds on mirrors in puddles shaped like horse’s feet
Deadwood was quiet. The smoke had all settled. The blood was dry.
Young Jack McCall sat awake in his cell, alone and quiet.
What had he done that day? What would his mother say?
Oh, Bill. My Bill, what have you done to my heart, Bill.
Oh, Bill. Wild Bill, what have you done to my heart?
You see, Bill had a lover and he left her distraught.
So, she found a new man. No Wild Bill, but so what.
Then Bill comes back to town and some problems arise.
He outgunned the poor fool and there.the rub lies.
You see, Bill had to shoot first or he’d a got shot his self.
He didn’t like it but that was the hand he was dealt
Her young son, his mother’s loss to address
Decides he’ll send this Wild Bill to his eternal rest.
So, he shot Bill in the back. Now he sits in a cell.
He’s got a date with a rope tomorrow at twelve
So, she lost both her lovers, now she’s losing a son.
And there’s no place to hide from the song of the gun.Oh, Bill. My Bill, what have you done to my heart, Bill.
Oh, Bill. Wild Bill, what have you done to my heart?
An eye for an eye, a heart for a heart just doubles the damage
But if he had to do it over he’d have to do it all over
Brothers in worms soon, the grave yard lay yawning
The grass was dry.
the good times, the missed fortunes
The passions the promises,
Their gold would outlast them all.
Oh, Bill. My Bill, what have you done to my heart, Bill.
Oh, Bill. Wild Bill, what have you done to my heart?

(C) 1995 Royal T Music

I wrote this while working on the movie back in 1995. I played a minor character and had plenty of time to soak up the story. Worked with Jeff Bridges and Helen Barkin. She’s very pretty in real life.
I submitted a tape of this song for consideration as music to be used in the film. Found a message on the phone a few months later. It was Bunny Andrews, the music editor on the film. Said she loved the song but just received the tape, too late. Subsequently, I spent an evening with her and her boy friend. Dinner and a tour of a Foley facility and a meeting a couple famous movie music makers.