OLE BILLY RAY'S CHICKENS (The VW Boys)
By: Dixie Hall (BMI)
Tom T. Hall (BMI)

VERSE 1: THERE'S A LIQUOR CASE DOWN AT HIS MAILBOX
IT'S PACKED WITH OLE BILLY RAY'S STUFF
AND A NOTE FROM HIS WIFE SAYS I LOVE YOU
BUT BILLY, I'VE JUST HAD ENOUGH
HE'S BIN ON THE MOUNTAIN A WEEK NOW
AND LEFT HER DOWN THERE ALL ALONE
THE ONE TIME HE DROPPED IN TO SEE HER
HE BRUNG SEVEN BANTY HENS HOME

VERSE 2: THE STREAMS HAVE RUN DRY IN THE VALLEY
THEY SAY IT'S THE WORST DROUGHT IN YEARS
AS DRY AS IT GETS BY ELEVEN
OLE BILLY IS FULL OF GOOD CHEER
HE'S GOT AN OLD SHACK ON THE MOUNTAIN
HE SAYS IT'S WHERE HE GOES TO THINK
HIS WIFE SAYS THAT HE IS GONE HUNTING
AND COULD BE A-HUNTIN' A DRINK

VERSE 3: WHEN SHE CAUGHT HIM SIPPIN' THE WHISKEY
HIS WIFE, WHO IS KNOWN FOR THE TRUTH
PREDICTED TO BILLY THAT SOME DAY
HIS CHICKENS WOULD COME HOME TO ROOST
SHE RAN BILLY OUT OF THE VALLEY
AND BILLY HE TOOK IT SO HARD
HE GATHERED UP ALL OF HIS CHICKENS
AND DUMPED THEM IN SOME NEIGHBOR'S YARD

VERSE 4: NOW BILLY HAS ALWAYS LOVED CHICKENS
HE'D WATER AND FEED THEM EACH DAY
BUT THEY'VE BIN A-ROAMIN' THE VALLEY
SINCE HE STARTED DRINKING THIS WAY
WE ALL THINK THE WORLD OF OLE BILLY
AND WE'RE PROUD TO CALL HIM OUR FRIEND
BUT BILLY'S STILL UP IN THE MOUNTAIN
AND HERE COMES THEM CHICKENS AGAIN

TAG: NOW THE END TO THIS SAD LITTLE STORY
IS LIKE ALL THE OTHERS YOU'VE HEARD
HIS WIFE SHE JUST HANGS OUT AT YARD SALES
AND BILLY'S AS FREE AS A BIRD