BILL BAILEY WON'T YOU PLEASE COME HOME

Created on 01/12/2005
Latest update on 27/06/2023

Artist: Arthur Collins
Author: Hughie Cannon
Label: Columbia/Edison
Year: 1902

N°1 US. Ragtime influence. Introduced by minstrel John Queen in vaudeville.

Covers:

1902:

Dan Quinn

1920s:

Jesse Young [as fiddle tune]

1945:

Kid Ory

1950s:

Louis Armstrong

1956:

Big Bill Broonzy

1958:

Duke Ellington

1959:

Brenda Lee

1959:

Julie London

1960:

Bobby Darin

1960:

Siw Malmkvist

1961:

Della Reese

1961:

Zoot Sims

1961:

Les McCann

1961:

Anneke Grönloh & Dutch Swing College Band

1963:

Ella Fitzgerald

1963:

Jimmy Smith

1963:

Patsy Cline

1964:

Trini Lopez

1964:

Al Hirt & Ann-Margret

1964:

Sam Cooke

1965:

King Curtis

1966:

Jimmy Durante

1970s:

Ann Christy [posthumous release in 2005 as Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey]

1987:

Gun Club

1987:

Tiny Tim

The real Bill Bailey was a black vaudeville performer, part of duo Bailey & Cowan. After the show he liked to hang out with his friends (author Hughie Cannon being one of them), much against his temperous wife's advise. This time, his friends, aware of her reputation and considering Bill's condition, payed him a hotel bed instead of delivering him home. It worked wonders. The next day his wife started begging him back, unconditionally. The song inspired a couple of spin-off's: I Wonder Why Bill Bailey Won't Come Home and Since Bill Bailey Came Back Home.

Contact


If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:

Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)

info@originals.be

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