Oct. 5, 19731 viewer12K views
The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909-1934) Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Some punk with a shotgun killed young Danny Bailey
In cold blood, in the lobby of a downtown motel
Killed him in anger, a force he couldn't handle
Helped pull the trigger that cut short his life
And there's not many knew him the way that we did
Sure enough he was a wild one, but then aren't most hungry kids?
[Chorus]
Now it's all over, Danny Bailey
And the harvest is in
Dillinger's dead, oh
I guess the cops won again
Now it's all over, Danny Bailey
And the harvest is in
[Verse 2]
We're running short of heroes back up here in the hills
Without Danny Bailey, we're gonna have to break up our stills
So mark his grave well 'cause Kentucky loved him
Born and raised a proper, I guess life just bugged him
And he found faith in danger, a lifestyle he lived by
A running gun youngster in a sad restless age
[Chorus]
Now it's all over, Danny Bailey
And the harvest is in
Dillinger's dead
I guess the cops won again
Now it's all over, Danny Bailey
And the harvest is in
Some punk with a shotgun killed young Danny Bailey
In cold blood, in the lobby of a downtown motel
Killed him in anger, a force he couldn't handle
Helped pull the trigger that cut short his life
And there's not many knew him the way that we did
Sure enough he was a wild one, but then aren't most hungry kids?
[Chorus]
Now it's all over, Danny Bailey
And the harvest is in
Dillinger's dead, oh
I guess the cops won again
Now it's all over, Danny Bailey
And the harvest is in
[Verse 2]
We're running short of heroes back up here in the hills
Without Danny Bailey, we're gonna have to break up our stills
So mark his grave well 'cause Kentucky loved him
Born and raised a proper, I guess life just bugged him
And he found faith in danger, a lifestyle he lived by
A running gun youngster in a sad restless age
[Chorus]
Now it's all over, Danny Bailey
And the harvest is in
Dillinger's dead
I guess the cops won again
Now it's all over, Danny Bailey
And the harvest is in
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Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Who was Danny Bailey?
Genius Answer
According to Bernie Taupin, Danny Bailey is completely fictional:
Danny Bailey is John Dillinger, or Pretty Boy Floyd…he is my composite gangster."
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Credits
Produced By
Written By
Piano
Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Backing Vocals
Arranged By [Orchestra]
Recorded At
Château d’Hérouville, Hérouville, France
Release Date
October 5, 1973
Songs That Sample The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909-1934)
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