Langbeats
The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34) – Elton John

Elton John

The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34) lyrics

Language
English
Level
Intermediate
Genre
Pop
Length
4:24
  1. Some punk with a shotgun killed young Danny Bailey

  2. In cold blood, in the lobby of a downtown motel

  3. Killed him in anger, a force he couldn't handle

  4. Helped pull the trigger that cut short his life

  5. And there's not many knew him the way that we did

  6. Sure enough he was a wild one, but then aren't most hungry kids

  7. Now it's all over Danny Bailey

  8. And the harvest is in

  1. Dillinger's dead

  2. I guess the cops won again

  3. Now it's all over Danny Bailey

  4. And the harvest is in

  5. We're running short of heroes back up here in the hills

  6. Without Danny Bailey we're gonna have to break up our stills

  7. So mark his grave well, 'cause Kentucky loved him

  8. Born and raised a proper, I guess life just bugged him

  9. And he found faith in danger, a lifestyle he lived by

  10. A running gun youngster in a sad restless age

  11. Now it's all over Danny Bailey

  12. And the harvest is in

  13. Dillinger's dead

  14. I guess the cops won again

  15. Now it's all over Danny Bailey

  16. And the harvest is in

Key vocabulary

knew
past of know
blood
red fluid in the bodyA2
cold
low temperatureA1
cut
make a sharp woundA1
lived
had a home; existed
youngster
a young person
restless
unable to stay still
downtown
city centerA2
killed
caused deathA2
pull
pull with forceA2

Test yourself

How much of The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34) did you catch?

A quick quiz on the key words from this song.

Take the quiz in the app

About this song

Elton John is an English singer-songwriter and pianist known for his role in pop rock and piano-driven glam rock. He became famous for the songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin and for a career that produced major chart hits and award-winning performances.

More songs by Elton John

More Intermediate Music to Learn English

🇬🇧 Elton John

The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34)

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

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

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

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

The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34)

🇬🇧 Elton John
0:000:00