Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)

"Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)" is a song with music by Milton Ager and lyrics by Jack Yellen, written in 1924.[1] The song became a vocal hit for Margaret Young accompanied by Rube Bloom, and an instrumental hit for the Don Clark Orchestra.[1]

1924 sheet music cover

The song has also been recorded by Ernest Hare (1924),[2][3] Billy Murray (1924), Clementine Smith (1924), Emmett Miller (1929), Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra (1940), Peggy Lee (1962), Merle Haggard (1973), Ry Cooder (1978), Leon Redbone (1978), Van Halen (1982) and others[4] and has been a popular song in barbershop quartet and chorus competitions.[5][6]

The lyrics describe a man "in the town of Louisville..." who was once a fearsome and rough character known for getting into fights, who, after getting married, becomes a peaceable person who devotes his time to domestic activities such as washing dishes and mopping the floor. He was "Stronger than Samson I declare, Til the brown skinned woman, Bobbed his hair."[7]

Recordings

In film

References
  1. Jasen, David A. (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). New York: Routledge. p. 21. ISBN 0-415-93700-0. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  2. Blue Amberol Records 4947 (1924 Edison cylinder)
  3. "Edison matrix 9864. Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William now) / Ernest Hare - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu.
  4. "Big Bad Bill is Sweet William Now" at allmusic.com (link). Accessed 2011 January 2
  5. Balladtown USA presents 30 Years of Barbershop Harmony (1975) RCS Records RCS-71, 1975 All Northwest Barbershop Ballad Contest, Forest Grove, OR - "The Lions Share"
  6. Naked Voice Records NVR 409 (link Archived 2010-01-16 at the Wayback Machine)
  7. "Ry Cooder – Big Bad Bill Is Sweet William Now" – via genius.com.
  8. BIG BAD BILL by Billy Murray 1924 on YouTube
  9. Emmett Miller - BIG BAD BILL (is sweet William now) - 1929 on YouTube
  10. "Sugar 'n' Spice - Peggy Lee" – via www.allmusic.com.
  11. "Hag - Merle Haggard" – via www.allmusic.com.
  12. Warner Brothers Records BSK 3197
  13. "Ry Cooder - Jazz Album" – via www.allmusic.com.
  14. "Champagne Charlie - Leon Redbone" – via www.allmusic.com.
  15. "Diver Down - Van Halen" – via www.allmusic.com.
  16. CD 5608 at Singers.com (link)
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