“Common Bill”

Description

The singer says Bill "isn't charming," and is "altogether green." He courts her relentlessly, to her scorn. At last he says that he will kill himself if she does not wed him. Citing the Bible's injunction against killing, she consents

Cross references

• cf. "Barney O'Hea" (theme)

Recordings

• I. G. Greer w. Mrs. I. G. Greer, "Common Bill" (AFS; on LC14)
• Hill Billies, "Silly Bill" (OKeh 40294, 1925)
• McGee Brothers, "Charming Bill" (Vocalion 5166, 1927)
• McGee Brothers & Todd, "Common Bill" (on CrowTold02)
• New Lost City Ramblers, "Common Bill" (on NLCR10)
• Ernest Thompson & Connie Sides, "Silly Bill" (Columbia 15002-D, rec. 1924)

References

1. Randolph 119, "Common Bill" (2 texts)
2. Eddy 57, "Common Bill" (2 texts, 1 tune)
3. Gardner/Chickering 178, "Common Bill" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Linscott, pp. 187-188, "Common Bill" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. BrownII 195, "Common Bill" (1 text plus 1 excerpt and mention of 3 more)
6. Hudson 57, pp. 173-174, "Common Bill" (1 text)
7. Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 308-310, "Common Bill" (2 texts, 1 tune on pp. 437-438)
8. Sandburg, pp. 62-63, "Common Bill" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. Lomax-ABFS, pp. 325-326, "Hardly Think I Will" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. Cohen/Seeger/Wood, p. 76, "Silly Bill" (1 text, 1 tune)
11. LPound-ABS, 104, pp. 214-215, "I Will Tell You of a Fellow" (1 text)
12. Silber-FSWB, p. 172, "Common Bill" (1 text)
13. DT, CMMNBILL*
14. Roud #442
15. BI, R119