John, Elton - The Ballad Of Danny Bailey Lyrics






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





Other Lyrics by Artist

Rand Lyrics

Last Posts

John, Elton The Ballad Of Danny Bailey Comments
  1. R.... J....

    This album benchmarks a certain time in my life. Music that touches the heart holds me to that time and place. This music does that. Rich

  2. H.... H....

    we saw Elton on this tour so it was the 1st time we had heard most of the songs. and there was a new opening act called Steely Dan. it was the best music we had never heard. can't wait to see him again next summer!

  3. R.... J....

    From start to finish the album and songs are Elton (and Bernie) at their peak and creatively and conceptually., their best. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the diamond in Elton's brilliant catalog.

  4. R.... E....

    Wholly contained in this one song: The very best of every facet of the original Elton John Band is showcased. Lush orchestration, inspired piano playing, first-rate vocals, incomparable bassline, precision drumming, the lyricism of a craftsman and backing vocals that even Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young or The Beatles would envy. The entire album was the virtual soundtrack of my high school years.

  5. D.... S....

    Born and raised proper, I guess life just bugged him, a running gun youngster in a sad restless age. Now it's all over Danny Bailey, and the cops one again.

  6. D.... S....

    Such gritty songs on this album. Bernie was so perceptive.

  7. s.... p....

    Good song by Elton John and it's very underrated!

  8. l.... ....

    This album is Elton's Sergeant Pepper

  9. S.... ....

    One of the best albums and double albums ever. Elton has many great albums but this is his best.

  10. R.... M....

    Wow@2:47 ☆To THE END WOWWOWWOW!!!!❗❗

  11. D.... C....

    "Ballad of Danny Bailey" my favorite song on the entire album:) The part towards the end of the song, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

  12. J.... R....

    awsome!

  13. C.... C....

    Is this the right pitch? I haven't heard this in 40 years, but it feels like a few semitones too high.

  14. A.... B....

    wow!! amazing!!

  15. S.... W....

    Every song on that album could be a movie

  16. J.... C....

    17 years old first car 65 gto ride around all day on mt. vernon ave 2929 hickory st listen to elton all day !!

    J.... C....

    now i am 62 ride around in Dumfries va all day on my motorcycle and listen to u guessed it Ej !!!!!

  17. D.... G....

    Bernie ❤️ ... How much do I love this?

  18. a.... ....

    The finest line, ever to be written about Marilyn-
    "From the young man in the twenty second row
    Who sees you as something more than sexual
    More than just our Marilyn Monroe "

  19. C.... S....

    by far his best.saw him July fourth 76 Schaefer stadium.fantastic performance

  20. a.... ....

    perhaps the Album title, was telling that their early, most inspired work was behind them. All 'a glitter, personas to maintain, record co''s to please.

  21. J.... ....

    The bass playing is commented about a lot. Dee came from a different place musically.

  22. B.... H....

    One of my favorite songs on this album, they don’t make albums like this anymore

  23. T.... M....

    Dee takes that bass for a provocative walk around and leaves a glimmering footprint with each step.

  24. G.... T....

    Thx a lot a wave of memories were set a blaze again thx to my bug bruh for puttin me up on ej again thx😎😎😎

  25. m.... ....

    great, currently #62 in my ever evolving Elton top 100 :)

  26. B.... m....

    Luckily for me, this is the Soundtrack 2 My youth!

  27. f.... l....

    What do you know ? Fucking child abuser !

  28. F.... V....

    SUBLIME!!

  29. S.... O....

    This album is one of the best in history. Everything is spot on here. The songs, the lyrics, the playing, everything. They must have had some wonderful days down there. And Dee Murray......his job here is just brilliant. I remember I loved his playing on this one so much when I was younger. I just love Ballad of Danny Bailey!!!! Elton John is up there with the graeatest. Mozart, The ABBA-dudes, Paul McCartney and a few others.

    S.... O....

    No question

    S.... O....

    I agree with you about The Ballad of Danny Bailey.

  30. A.... G....

    I GUESS THIS COPS WON AGAIN ......

  31. j.... s....

    agree mark

  32. T.... ....

    Continued brilliance from Dee Murray. Wonderful song.

  33. G.... B....

    That piano brilliant

  34. S.... M....

    sem comentário,ótimo.

  35. f.... l....

    And no , the cops can never win. They are fighting a rearguard action with no winning strategy.

  36. f.... l....

    Funny old word it is. Candle in the wind. Monroe murdered and then we have the same song for Di. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM ! Elton is a paedo by the way.

  37. f.... l....

    Dillenger survived. FBI reports even say wrong colour eyes. Ha ha fuck the system.

  38. O.... G....

    My into to Elton John was "Funeral for a Friend"...….I listened that tune every "pre-game" high school football game from 1976-1977....which underscored our Co-Championship season (Eastern League, B-Team, Bell H.S.)

  39. M.... E....

    Love this and the entire album. Friend loaned the album to me in the 70's. Loved that all of the lyrics were in the album cover. I know all of the words to all of these excellent songs. For me, Danny Bailey is an Earworm. Darn it, here I go again...

  40. A.... E....

    Only outdone by tickin.

  41. J.... G....

    This group just killed the jam out at the end

  42. f.... i....

    This is a miracle... The best rhythm section in the world...

  43. J.... T....

    When I was in High School, everyone I knew - and I mean everyone - had this album. It catapulted Elton John to Superstardom. This double album is the 70's.

  44. M.... ....

    I listen to this album a lot, definitely a masterpiece...
    The Ballad of Danny Bailey, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Bennie and the Jets, This Song Has No Title, and Funeral for a Friend are definitely favorites!

  45. M.... I....

    this album nobody will match the heaft elton puts into his music then and still at his last concerts well done you changed music my friend

  46. f.... i....

    Quando si riconoscerà che Dee Murray è uno dei più grandi bassisti in assoluto?

    f.... i....

    anche john deacon dei queen non e malaccio ehhh

  47. R.... C....

    I love this song.

  48. f.... ....

    true inspirationn

  49. J.... W....

    The fact that anyone gives this album a thumbs down is simply goofy

  50. M.... M....

    One of the best Albums ever made.

  51. T.... G....

    Bonny  +  Clyde  set  to  music

    T.... G....

    there is a song,ballad of bonnie and clyde

  52. j.... m....

    Bass player, Dee Murray out does himself in this song.. GREAT BASS PLAYING... RIP DEE!!!

    j.... m....

    Absolutely!!!!

  53. F.... Z....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyuZXkWAgzE

  54. l.... ....

    Totally agree that this album is a masterpiece! The songs, the arrangements, the lyrics, there was nothing like it at the time. Elton's best for sure. It's my favorite album (think its only n. 92 on the Rolling Stones greatest albums list, and I don't agree...). I dare anyone to create another album like this. Elton was my god and piano teacher (until he started to write shit from mid-80's onward.....).

  55. f.... l....

    Cops did not win again. Dillinger survived. Wrong coloured eyes on corpse. See his navy records.

  56. v.... h....

    the end of this song...wow piano playing at its best...pure class elton

  57. n.... w....

    Mom got me this album on 8-track from Columbia house I know everey songs

  58. J.... R....

    Rest now.....sure your troubles are no longer. May Peace find you and your family.

  59. z.... ....

    Great drumming this entire album by Nigel.

  60. D.... W....

    I was 13 when this album came out. I bought it and was mesmerized by the whole thing. A double album with lyrics! It was the best thing I ever bought. But then to memorize ever song was even more special. I had before this. "Dont shoot me I'm only the piano player" and "Caribou". but later bought all of Eltons early albums. I kind of gave up at "Rock of the Westies" and did buy it. My secret pleasure is "Captain Fantastic" I still have the album and two prints of the Album Art. That album has a special place in my heart. As well as the artwork from the album. That to me is astounding and I have it framed.

  61. m.... s....

    A very good British program on Elton from after the release of Yellowbrick Road made the rounds on ABC television Stateside in '73-'74. It includes a visual of Elton diggin' on the playback of this song in the studio. I think the doc is here on youtube. I'll look for it.

  62. S.... D....

    After listening to this hundreds of times since I bought it in 1975, I found a discrepancy in the timeline today (5/20/18) that Taupin wouldn't have known about. D. Bailey was killed in the lobby of a downtown motel about the time Dillinger was shot, which was mid-1934. However, motel's did not exist until after WWII, as their name means Motor Hotel, one easily accessed by auto and truly popularized in the fifties as these sprang up alongside the new highway system crossing the nation. As such, motels were not built in downtown locations, but on the outskirts. Picyune, I know, but it was such a surprise to hear it after all these years.

  63. J.... T....

    Class tune love it 👍👍

  64. E.... N....

    I was very very young when this album came out, the song Good Bye Yellow Brick Road is one of my first faves. As true to form today, I have always liked songs on albums that aren't as well known, this being one of them.

  65. D.... Y....

    The most amazing album ever!! This song.....the best!

  66. E.... K....

    Love this song and the entire album... was ready for "Dirty Little Girl" to startup at its end!
    https://youtu.be/Lj6lFN9YHW4

  67. H.... O....

    That bass tone. Just that alone would be enough to listen to all day.

    H.... O....

    To mr Home one If you were to here this nice song on my four JBL L 300 speakers then you would really appreciate the bass.

  68. S.... V....

    Steve Vance told me I'd love it and he was right as always Kentucky did love him.

  69. J.... ....

    This is the one album I’d choose if I was stranded on an island forever.

  70. J.... S....

    1972 - S.R.T.R. - ONDE VOCÊ ESTIVER, EU ESTAREI.

  71. a.... ....

    The lyrics, the piano, the strings, amazing!

  72. D.... B....

    I am Danny Bailey

    D.... B....

    I'm Spartacus

  73. M.... S....

    What a great arrangement at the end.

  74. f.... l....

    Funny how Monroe was murdered and He did the same song for HRH Di ? Even says "Dillingers dead, I guess the cops won again." The Dillinger that was killed had different coloured eyes and was not possibly him. Can you only be rich and famous if you lie for the state ?

    f.... l....

    francis lea got your tin foil hat on?

    f.... l....

    Bernie taupin said that this lyric ia about all gansters and dillinger just happened to fit in better than any other.........check out a dvd called classic albums " goodbye yellow brick road " its a song by song break down by EJ and BT

  75. R.... F....

    Superb song by Bernie and Elton, and brilliant musicianship from the Band. Dee's bass on this is staggering!

  76. s.... w....

    This is an absolute masterpiece that only thick , shallow people could ignore - sorry, but there are only certain people who could actually appreciate these early Elton John albums and singles - why question it - you are among the few people who are deep enough to appreciate them? 95% of human beings are just not capable - end of.
    It is so sad that we have so may people in the world now who are too dense to appreciate such genius - maybe we need a cull?

  77. M.... P....

    west side creepy

  78. A.... R....

    I wish he would play this live at his shows more often.

  79. L.... H....

    Brilliant and timeless. The production is flawless.

  80. R.... A....

    Este álbum moldou minha adolescência. A musica sublime que sempre procurei, tem seu esboço neste álbum

  81. c.... ....

    Got to be one of my top 5 Elton songs, the drums on the whole album sound like Cannons!

  82. M.... W....

    DJ's used to cut off the end of this song on radio because it was "too long". The piano solo at the end is why you listen to this song. It's essential to playing air piano in your car.

  83. m.... ....

    Probably the best track off this album that never became a hit. Flawless Elton John .

  84. d.... r....

    Here's the thing about Elton for me - he has an enormous knowledge of and respect for pop's history and status in our culture, which comes through all the time in his work. His catchiest and most commercial songs, particularly in his golden early 70's period, have become a part of our social and cultural consciousness. Yet, with the utmost respect (because I like the guy), there's an emptiness and more to the point, lack of intelligence and focus to the vast majority of his songs. His prolific output, particularly  in the 70's, kept him upfront in our minds, but also resulted in a very large amount of album to album 'filler'. What I like about any artist's songs is that they embody an emotion, make you feel something about the world and your place in it, apart from sheer musical 'hooks' or musicianship - the best artists have this naturally; Elton at best has it strikingly, but only a bit. A hint of real sincerity and thus genuine feeling, particularly in the chorus,  imbues 'Danny Bailey' with a truth and weight that gives it meaning and TO ME, makes it a good song. The album it is on contains more of these moments than any other Elton LP, and its huge success would seem to indicate that even the most casual Elton fans 'connected' with this album. Thereafter, it was all downhill, albeit slowly, from a high commercial pop peak. I mean this sincerely - foe example, take 'Someone saved my life tonight' off his next record and it is ordinary at best. This to me, this double LP is Elton's 'White Album' ; cut out the worst 8-10 songs and only then do you have what might approach being called a 'pop masterpiece'. But he best is still darn good....

  85. M.... S....

    Definitely one of my favorites from this masterpiece. The arrangement is just so perfect. Dee Murray's bass is killer!!!

    M.... S....

    Dee was a GREAT BASSPLAYER. Very underrated!!

  86. B.... ....

    This was the album of my childhood, my older sister had it. Just genius.

  87. Y.... Z....

    I'm so glad his music is finally available to u.s.😘😘😘😘😘😘

  88. A.... S....

    Fukn too right.!

  89. S.... V....

    Yes, ftsjr, it is IMHO, his masterpiece. Saw him in concert and he was incredible.

  90. S.... V....

    Classic. This album was part of our growing up.

  91. 2.... D....

    All time fave John track. Love the orchestration at the end. WOW! And the sound of the format they recorded it on is outstanding, get back to 70's tech modern singers, and get some talent also.

  92. S.... S....

    Why doesn't he play this live?

    S.... S....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyuZXkWAgzE

    S.... S....

    Pinball Wizard Elton John

  93. J.... R....

    His Voice......... Ramona

  94. C.... B....

    This is one of the best deep album cuts he ever recorded. The end piano is to die for! The arrangement is top-of-the-line. The performances of all involved are a plus. The storytelling by Bernie is some of his best. It remains a classic, and one of the most outstanding songs on yellow brick road.

  95. K.... H....

    Elton at his absolute best, one of the top 100 albums of ALL TIME

    K.... H....

    Kiwanis Hinton top5 album of all times

    K.... H....

    @DARKWILL Yup!

    K.... H....

    top 10 overall , Elton's 2nd best

    K.... H....

    @mizofan OK, what is #1?

    K.... H....

    Yup, but top 20 for me, well at least top 30!

  96. J.... M....

    Se apoderó de nuestras almas. ¡Lujazo!

  97. A.... R....

    DILLENGER'S dead......you know when he was shot in front of that theatre, the ladies were swarming and clamouring with the handkerchiefs for to dip them in his blood.....plus the penis in formaldahyde in the Smithsonian

  98. M.... ....

    Don't forget Bonnie and Clyde...they were bad, but you have to root for their crazy love and spirit to rage against; well, you know what I mean.

  99. L.... S....

    omg f Lee what you fucken smoking bro. get a grip son

  100. L.... S....

    hey Mark I agree absolute masterpiece.first album I brought and no every song word for word. love it