G                   C/G      G
Billy Dee was seventeen when he turned twenty-one 
                               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 
                           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:(Three and a half tones lower) 
     C/G                F         C/G
Busy goin' his own way and speakin' his own words 
                          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 
                        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:(Four and a half tones higher) 
        A                  D        A
It may be his soul bigger than a body's oughta be 
                                 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 
                            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