Billy out on the boulevard
Preaching salvation
On fire and tar
Some think he's crazy
Some just shake their heads
But Billy keeps on preaching
Yeah, Billy keeps on preaching
Billy out in the rain again
No one will know
His suffering and pain
They say he's dying
But inside he's alive
And Billy keeps on preaching
Yeah, Billy keeps on preaching
No one seems to know
The days are numbered
Some are going to sleep
While others slumber
And some will never rest at all
Chorus:
And the waves of heat are rising
And the steam escapes the street
Southern California shade
Offers no relief
But he's pounding out the pavement
With his leatherback in his hand
Trying to make the people understand
No one sees the fields
Are white to harvest
The laborers too few
To hit the target
And some won't even try at all
Repeat Chorus
Billy out in the barren wind
Feeling the last breath
Escaping within
When he talks of dying
He speaks of it firsthand
But Billy keeps on preaching
Yeah, Billy keeps on preaching
To the end