Johnny Cash
Lyric guide

Smiling Bill McCall

Read Smiling Bill McCall lyrics by Johnny Cash on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

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Page type: lyric reference Artist: Johnny Cash Canonical path: /johnny-cash/smiling-bill-mccall Related lyric paths: 6
Lyrics

Smiling Bill McCall

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Well, the whole town listened to the radio

For the Smiling Bill McCall Show

Everyone in Nashville

Was listenin' to Bill

I don't want to be layin' in bed

When they pronounce me dead

He'd stand and breathe in the microphone

With his guitar hangin' to his knee bone

All the girls just sat and dreamed

When Bill began his sing

I don't want my hat to be hung

When my last song is sung

But he never let fame go to his head

This is Smiling Bill McCall, he said

Gonna pick and sing a song or two

You all listen till I'm through

And if you're at the house or in your car

Tune in this time tomorrow

To all the boys he was a big hero

They'd glue their ears to the radio

Then talkin' a most unusual drawl

Imitatin' Bill McCall

Daddy, can I get me a guitar

'Cause I want to be a star

The girls would say of Bill McCall

Why I bet he's over six feet tall

Handsomest man in Nashville

They said of Smiling Bill

He won't be plantin' potato slips

When he cashes in his chips

Then one day Bill didn't make the show

Didn't even show up for a week or so

The station's boss said to city hall

"Find Smiling Bill McCall"

It won't be hard to track him down

He's got the biggest feet in town

Well, there's a creek that runs through Nashville

And on the bank they found Smiling Bill

He's committin' suicide

But they grabbed him before he tried

Turn me loose, I want to jump, he screamed

'Cause I can't stand that theme

Let this be my final breath

'Cause I'm scared to half to death

The big brave Smiling Bill McCall

Is only four feet tall

I'd rather be in the river dead

Than to hear 'em laughin' at my bald head

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Who performs "Smiling Bill McCall"?

Johnny Cash performs "Smiling Bill McCall", and this lyric page sits inside the Johnny Cash catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Smiling Bill McCall"?

Yes. The related section below points to One and You Are My Sunshine with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Johnny Cash?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Johnny Cash's lyric pages.

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