Billy’s Voice              by William W. Thompson, IV            

Intro              C                  G              D            A                (x2)

Verse one

                          D                       A

Billy played his guitar, it was his only voice.

                          G                            D                         A

He was born deaf and dumb and didn’t have much choice.

             D                                                                                        A

He’d choke that neck and bang those strings, heard clearly what he’d say.

                      G                                                  D                        A

He hammered out his meaning on that instrument he played.

               C                                             G                                       D      A

He spoke in every language, understood by all who heard.

                        C                                                                   G                                                                         

Billy could make you laugh, make you cry, and make you believe

   D         A

every word.

Verse two

Abandoned by his family, and so he lived alone.

Guitar was his companion, played his fingers to the bone.

Never had no lessons, it had all come from within.

He spoke through that Martin, wore it like a second skin.

And it spoke back to him, he felt every word it said.

And it always told him the truth, not lies like others had instead.

Chorus

 Em                                A

He will strike a chord,

           Em                                 A

The music, his pen and sword

Em                                     A             G         D

The crowd, the only reward…. he’ll need.

Em                                A

As soon as he begins,

Em                                A

The song will draw them in

Em                                           A                                 G    D

A smile, a tear, a look of wonder…. he touched their heart.

Verse three

He never asked for pity, though folks said it was a shame,

Played with the hands he was dealt and made himself a name.

Was tuned into the masses, so much better than the rest.

Captured their emotions, didn’t need­­­ the words expressed.

Maybe it was a second sense, as he cut through the clamor and the din.

Had his fingers on the pulse, each one of us gives off within.

Verse four

So every other weekend, at the Roots Café

He’ll start a conversation, with the melody he plays.

The crowd will scream and clap their hands and all rise to their feet.

They all come from miles around just to hear Billy speak.

You won’t hear nothing like him, he’s got so much to say

And if you listen in silence, you’ll be swept away.

Chorus

Outro…  Repeat last line of chorus

Billy's Voice ft. Joseph Rodriguez by The TrueVulgarians

 Music and lyrics by Bill Thompson who sang lead vocals and played acoustic guitar.  Jacki Grapentine on back-up vocals.  Joseph Rodriquez played lead guitar and did the production.