Tom T. Hall
Lyric guide

Ballad of Bill Crump

Read Ballad of Bill Crump lyrics by Tom T. Hall on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

Tom T. Hall visibility0 visits Video on page
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot

The page facts to cite before the commentary

Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.

Page type: lyric reference Artist: Tom T. Hall Canonical path: /tom-t-hall/ballad-of-bill-crump Related lyric paths: 6 Video embedded: yes
Lyrics

Ballad of Bill Crump

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

Now I'd hear a lot of tall stories since my business is writin' songs

And every now and then if you listen real close a good true one comes along

And this is the story of old Bill Crump from the North Carolina Hills

Nat Winston of Nashville knew this man real well.

He built the church and he built the pews

He built the cradles and the furniture for the schools

Folks in Avery County say that he was better than good

Probably one of the reasons the Lord made wood.

Now men have faults and Bill's fault was he loved to sip that corn

He lived ninety some years that way don't guess it was hurtin' him none

You could take him a picture from a catalog he could build anything he'd see

He could make anything that you could make out of the tree.

One day Bill said Mama I'm gettin' old I want you to measure me good

I'm goin' out to that wood pile and get myself some wood

And I'm gonna make me a coffin I want it to fit me fine

The way I figure it I've got about enough time/

He built the church and he built the pews

He built the cradles and the furniture for the schools

Folks in Avery County say that he was better than good

Probably one of the reasons the Lord made wood.

Now Bill worked on that coffin like he was gonna be there awhile

He'd show the folks and rub that wood and then stand back and smile

He used that body for ninety some years figured it had treated him good

And when he left it he put it away in some real fine wood.

Oh, right now old Bill's sleepin' in the hills of North Caroline

In his homemade coffin handrubbed walnut velvet lined

Now most folks use their heads and hands and just think of themselves

His body's there but his spirit's someplace else.

'Cause he built the church and he built the pews

He built the cradles and the furniture for the schools

Folks in Avery County say that he was better than good

Probably one of the reasons the Lord made wood.

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

Who performs "Ballad of Bill Crump"?

Tom T. Hall performs "Ballad of Bill Crump", and this lyric page sits inside the Tom T. Hall catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Ballad of Bill Crump"?

Yes. The related section below points to Ballad of Forty Dollars and A Bar With No Beer with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Tom T. Hall?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Tom T. Hall's lyric pages.

Song Room

Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song

Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.

Open Song Room
0 followers Selected insights only surface after moderation
Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments
Add a short interpretation or memory

A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

No listener comments on Ballad of Bill Crump yet.