Digital Tradition Mirror

Common Bill

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

(alternate:)

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Common Bill

I will tell you of a fellow,
  Of a fellow I have seen;
Who is neither white nor yellow,
  But is altogether green;

And his name it isn't charming,
  For it's only common Bill,
And he wishes me to wed him,
  But I hardly think I will.

He has told me of a cottage
  A cottage among the trees
And don't you think the fellow
  Tumbled down upon hios knees

And the tears the creature wasted
  Were enough to turn a mill
And he urges me to wed him
  But I do not think I will

And he said twould be so pleasant
  As we journeyed down the hill
To go hand and hand together
  But I cannot think I will

He was here the other night,
 And he made so long a stay
I began to think the gump-head
  Would never go away;

Oh, he talked of devotion,
  Of devotion pure and bright,
And don't you think the fool-killer
  He nearly stayed all night.

And he wants me for to wed him,
  And the very deuce is in it,
For he says if I refuse him
  He cannot live a minute;

And you know the blessed Bible
  It teaches not to kill,
And I've thought the matter over,
  And I guess I'll marry Bill.

From American Songbag, Sandburg. Additional verses from Grieg
play.exe CMMNBILL.2
RG, SOF

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!