Bad Girl
Wild Heart in a Cowboy World: Jerry Jeff Walker's Tale of a Rebellious Belle
Lyrics
Hey let me tell you 'bout a girl I know
Introducing a girl named Billie Courtney.
Billie Courntey, she's the belle of Bandera, Texas
Describing Billie as the admired girl from Bandera, Texas.
Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know back there in my hometown
Talking about a girl from the narrator's hometown.
She's the kind I like to go dancing with when the sun goes down
Expressing a preference for dancing with the girl during sunset.
One time she rode her horse into the cowboy bar
Recalling a time when Billie rode her horse into a cowboy bar.
She mostly like to go camping underneath the stars
Highlighting Billie's enjoyment of camping under the stars.
She's got a reputation as a girl who likes to go to far
Indicating Billie's reputation for being adventurous.
Chorus;
Chorus: Setting the stage for the description of Billie's character.
She ain't a bad girl, she likes to do bad things
Contradicting the perception of Billie as a "bad girl."
She ain't a wild child, she just takes wild flings
Explaining that she engages in occasional wild behavior.
She really isn't nothing but her daddy's girl
Stating Billie is ultimately her father's daughter.
Who grew up kind of horsy in a cowboy world
Describing Billie's upbringing in a cowboy environment.
Just when you think you know her
Highlighting the unpredictability of Billie's actions.
She turns around and goes her own way
Emphasizing Billie's tendency to follow her own path.
There's thing about the girl I like and things about her I don't lik
Acknowledging both positive and negative aspects of Billie.
I know she got divorced and had to pack 'er up and move back home
Noting Billie's past divorce and relocation.
I know she loves to cook and sew up her own things
Sharing Billie's domestic skills like cooking and sewing.
And though she's separated, wears her wedding ring
Mentioning that she still wears her wedding ring despite separation.
There's time she stays out all night, but mostly she goes home alone
Highlighting Billie's occasional late nights but usually going home alone.
Chorus
Repeating the chorus to reiterate the contrast in Billie's character.
She got a hickey on her neck, but what the heck she's flesh and blood
Acknowledging a physical mark on Billie but downplaying its significance.
Now telling me she's sexy just like telling Noah about the flood
Comparing telling Billie's sexiness to telling Noah about the flood—obvious.
I know her voice is husky on the telephone
Noting the huskiness of Billie's voice on the telephone.
I know she loves to drive fast and sing Elvis songs
Sharing Billie's love for fast driving and singing Elvis songs.
She says sleazy don't mean easy, buddy back off when you're coming on
Quoting Billie's perspective on being perceived as sleazy.
Chorus
Repeating the chorus to emphasize the dual nature of Billie's character.
Just when you think you know her, she turns around and goes her own way
Reiterating the theme of Billie's independent nature.
Just when you think you know her, she turns around and goes her own way
Repeating the idea that Billie follows her own path despite assumptions.
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