Lyric Oklahoma Bill
(Stuart Hamblen)
The General just gave me a medal
Oh, I m a sight for mom to see
But when the news gets round that I ain t got ole Bill
Some kids gonna think a whole lot less of me.
You see she gave me that puppy
And said he d protect me through the night
And if I got hurt he d go for help
Or he d back me up in a fight.
He growed all the while I was trainin
Forget him I never will
Cause you d never see me with him
Right at my heels was Oklahoma Bill.
We hit a long ridge one sunup
And it seemed like death held all the cards
Cause we payed and payed with lives of men
For every hard fought yard.
When finally we drove up to the top
There wasn t nothin but death behind
And as we all dug in we all thanked God
Though we numbered only nine.
And as the snipers switched their guns
As darkness closed that hill
My soul companion in the night
Was Oklahoma Bill.
There s no glory in a battle
Ince you ve seen its awful cost
But there s glory in the knowledge
That your flag has never lost.
And yet in the stillness of the nightime
And all alone you hold a post
You start cryin like a baby
Sittin there with all the ghosts.
You feel your buddies are pattin your back
Though their guns re silent and still
It s only a dog tryin to love you
My Oklahoma Bill.
I gave my note to the Colonel
And I bound a shattered leg
And I said Bill we re sure in trouble
He never whimpered or begged.
I could tell he hated to leave me
I was the only God he ever knew
But quick as a flash he took of through the night
Like a fightin marine would do.
I kept firin till help finally came
It was him though that saved that hill
A dyin dog had got through the lines
My Oklahoma Bill.
That little ol kid will always wonder
What happened to her dog
But she ll find out on Judgement Day
When she sees the big Skipper s log.
We ll all walk in and bugles ll blow
And we ll stand our last revue
And men who ve died for men on earth
Will get their heavenly dues.
And if all brave hearts are there that day
I ll get my greatest thrill
When I hang this medal around the neck
Of Oklahoma Bill...
The General just gave me a medal
Oh, I m a sight for mom to see
But when the news gets round that I ain t got ole Bill
Some kids gonna think a whole lot less of me.
You see she gave me that puppy
And said he d protect me through the night
And if I got hurt he d go for help
Or he d back me up in a fight.
He growed all the while I was trainin
Forget him I never will
Cause you d never see me with him
Right at my heels was Oklahoma Bill.
We hit a long ridge one sunup
And it seemed like death held all the cards
Cause we payed and payed with lives of men
For every hard fought yard.
When finally we drove up to the top
There wasn t nothin but death behind
And as we all dug in we all thanked God
Though we numbered only nine.
And as the snipers switched their guns
As darkness closed that hill
My soul companion in the night
Was Oklahoma Bill.
There s no glory in a battle
Ince you ve seen its awful cost
But there s glory in the knowledge
That your flag has never lost.
And yet in the stillness of the nightime
And all alone you hold a post
You start cryin like a baby
Sittin there with all the ghosts.
You feel your buddies are pattin your back
Though their guns re silent and still
It s only a dog tryin to love you
My Oklahoma Bill.
I gave my note to the Colonel
And I bound a shattered leg
And I said Bill we re sure in trouble
He never whimpered or begged.
I could tell he hated to leave me
I was the only God he ever knew
But quick as a flash he took of through the night
Like a fightin marine would do.
I kept firin till help finally came
It was him though that saved that hill
A dyin dog had got through the lines
My Oklahoma Bill.
That little ol kid will always wonder
What happened to her dog
But she ll find out on Judgement Day
When she sees the big Skipper s log.
We ll all walk in and bugles ll blow
And we ll stand our last revue
And men who ve died for men on earth
Will get their heavenly dues.
And if all brave hearts are there that day
I ll get my greatest thrill
When I hang this medal around the neck
Of Oklahoma Bill...
