I ONCE HAD A FRIEND FIXATED ON THE END
WE CALLED HIM LITTLE BILLY DEATH
A SLOW DARK CLOUD, NEVER (A LITTLE) TOO LOUD
AND ALWAYS SEEMED A BIT OUT OF BREATH

BILLY'S A REFLECTION OF HIS RECORD COLLECTION
AND ALL THE CLICHES THAT BRINGS
HE USED TO BE A NERO, MAN, A FRETBOARD HERO
BUT NOW HE DOESN'T PLAY A THING

HE JUST SITS IN HIS ROOM AND DRINKS TOO MUCH
AND GETS THINNER AS THE YEARS GO BY
NOW HE SITS ALL ALONE AND THINKS TOO MUCH
BILLY IF YOU'RE HOME PLEASE PICK UP THE TELEPHONE

LITTLE BILLY DON'T YOU LEAVE
IT'S TOO LATE TO DIE YOUNG NOW
LITTLE BILLY DON'T YOU LEAVE
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S COMING
SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST STICK AROUND

LAST TIME I SAW HIM HE WAS LOOKING SOMEWHAT BETTER
AND HE TOLD ME HE WAS DRINKING LESS
LIVING WITH HIS PARENTS MAKING A RARE APPEARANCE
IN HIS LEOPARD PRINT LEATHER VEST

NOW HE SITS IN HIS ROOM AND SMOKES TOO MUCH
AND GETS BITTER AS THE YEARS GO BY
NOW HE SITS ALL ALONE AND MOPES TOO MUCH
BILLY IF YOU'RE HOME PLEASE PICK UP THE PHONE
I'M CHECKING IF YOUR STILL ALIVE

LITTLE BILLY DON'T YOU LEAVE
IT'S TOO LATE TO DIE YOUNG NOW
YOU CAN ROLL BACK DOWN YOUR SLEEVES
WE ALL IT SAW IT COMING & I STARTED RUNNING
BUT YOU ALWAYS STOOD YOUR GROUND

SOMETIMES SOMEONE TELLS ME A LITTLE BILLY STORY
AND I JUST LAUGH AND SHAKE MY HEAD
I HEARD HE WAS LIVING IN NEW ORLEANS
WITH THE OTHER LIVING DEAD

THEY JUST SIT IN THEIR ROOM AND DRINK TOO MUCH
AND GET THINNER AS THE YEARS GO BY
THEY SIT ALL ALONE AND THINK TOO MUCH
BILLY IF YOU'RE HOME PLEASE PICK UP THE PHONE
I'M BRINGING MY GUITAR WE'RE GONNA PLAY THE STONES
BILLY IF YOU'RE HOME PLEASE PICK UP THE PHONE
I'M CHECKING IF YOUR STILL ALIVE

LITTLE BILLY DON'T YOU LEAVE
IT'S TOO LATE TO DIE YOUNG NOW
YOU CAN ROLL BACK DOWN YOUR SLEEVES
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S COMING
SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST STICK AROUND
WE ALL IT SAW IT COMING & I STARTED RUNNING
BUT YOU JUST STOOD AROUND