The Ballad Of Billy The Kid - Billy Joel

Billy Joel has a slew of radio friendly hits that are always receiving airtime and are huge fan favorites. But he also has a large number of equally great songs that are relatively unknown, like 1973's The Ballad Of Billy The Kid. Joel's great piano work coupled with that big band sound makes this for an interesting and rewarding listen. His jazz 16th solos between the horns and the piano is a great blend and the lyrics interesting, even if they are historically inaccurate. This was off his Piano Man album and therefore was over shined by the song sharing the same name and never got the airtime it deserved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed_-brFWYdQ

The Ballad Of Billy The Kid

From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia
Rode a boy with a six-gun in his hand
And his daring life of crime
Made him a legend in his time
East and west of the Rio Grande

Well, he started with a bank in Colorado
In the pocket of his vest, a Colt he hid
And his age and his size
Took the teller by surprise
And the word spread of Billy the Kid

Well, he never traveled heavy
Yes, he always rode alone
And he soon put many older guns to shame
And he never had a sweetheart
And he never had a home
But the cowboy and the rancher knew his name

Well, he robbed his way from Utah to Oklahoma
And the law just could not seem to track him down
And it served his legend well
For the folks, they'd love to tell
'Bout when Billy the Kid came to town

Well, one cold day a posse captured Billy
And the judge said, "String 'im up for what he did!"
And the cowboys and their kin
Like the sea came pourin' in
To watch the hangin' of Billy the Kid

Well, he never traveled heavy
Yes, he always rode alone
And he soon put many older guns to shame
And he never had a sweetheart
But he finally found a home
Underneath the boothill grave that bears his name

From a town known as Oyster Bay, Long Island
Rode a boy with a six-pack in his hand
And his daring life of crime
Made him a legend in his time
East and west of the Rio Grande