G                            C/G              G
Billy Dee was seventeen when he turned twenty-one
                                    A7             D
Fooling with some foolish things he could've left alone
    G                          C/G                G
But he had to try to satisfy a thirst he couldn't name
                                   D            G
Driven towards the darkness by the devil in his veins
      C/G                  G
All around the honky tonks,searching for a sign
                              A7              D
Gettin' by on gettin' high on women,words and wine
     G                               C/G               G
Some folks called him crazy,Lord,and others called him free
                                    D             G
But we just called us lucky for the love of Billy Dee


[Verse 2]
  C/G                      F                C/G
Busy goin' his own way and speakin' his own words
                            D7              G
Facin' and forgettin' every warnin' that he heard
 C/G                            F              C/G
Makin' friends and takin' any crazy chance he could
                                     G                C/G
Gettin' busted for the bad times and believin' in the good
  F                         C/G
Billy took a beatin' from a world he meant no harm
                             D7              G
The score was written in the scars up on his arm
     C/G                        F                C/G
Some felt he was payin' for the life he tried to lead
                                  G                 C/G
But all we felt was sorry for our good friend Billy Dee


[Verse 3]
   A                             D             A
It may be his soul bigger than a body's oughta be
                                           B7               E
Singin' songs and bringin' laughter to the likes of you and me
   A                                       D               A
Cause the world he saw was sadder than the one he hoped to find
                                      E             A
But it wasn't near as lonesome as the one he left behind
     D                          A
Yesterday they found him on the floor of his hotel
                                      B7                E
Reachin' towards the needle,Lord,that drove him down to hell
      A                      D                A
Some folks called it suicide,others blame the speed
                                    E           A
But we all called it crucified when Billy Dee O.D.'d