Willie Poor Boy (L. Lewis/Spruce and Maple Music, ASCAP)
Come gather 'round me, people, a story I'll convey Of Willie and his pistol and how he made his way from a good man with a steady job and music on the side to an 8x10 with no parole in the wink of an eye
Well, Willie drove a city bus in the seedy part of town he feared for his passengers and he thought he'd let 'em down when some young punk, he pulled a gun and robbed the whole damn bus Willie tasted helpless fear and he swore he'd had enough
Willie, poor boy, layin' in jail Willie, poor boy, sorrowful tale
So Willie bought a hand gun and he practiced takin' aim With a strong arm and a steady hand he soon mastered the game A tall man standing taller still, he finally gained control He packed his pistol to his ribs as through the streets he'd roll
Willie, poor boy, layin' in jail Willie, poor boy, sorrowful tale
One day he walked along the street on a sunny afternoon His heart was light and happy and he whistled at a tune When he stepped into the crosswalk and he heard a screech of tires and as he leapt to safety he felt a sudden surge of ire "You, sir, are endangering pedestrians" he yelled at the man behind the wheel Who lowered his power window and in a voice hard as steel he said, "You're the one to blame, you dirty low-life scum" And he spat, and like a whiplash Willie spat back with his gun
Willie, poor boy, layin' in jail Willie, poor boy, sorrowful tale
Now, a gun's not meant to dig a ditch, and a spade's not meant to shoot Each tool has it's purpose and what's made will be used Now, Willie, he was lucky- he shot but he did not kill but that bullet dug a hole the best of lawyers could not fill And no amount of sad remorse can wipe away the crime a gun will serve its master and now master's serving time.