Mr. Hamilton had a dog
Called Billy Joe.
His only daughter bought it for him
So he wouldn't feel alone.
For Mrs. Hamilton had died
A long, long time ago.
So Mr. Hamilton loved this dog
Called Billy Joe.

But when he woke up one day
He noticed the dog was gone.
So he came to me
And asked me to write this song.

Billy Joe will you come back to me
If you can?
I'll be glad.
You were the only thing
I cared about
As an old, ageing man.

Mrs. Hamilton was in an accident
Last winter.
She was walking across the road
When a motorcycle hit her.
And Mr. Hamilton received a call
From the police station
And he rushed down to the hospital
Where they kept him waiting.

Mr. Hamilton was sitting
Right beside her bed,
When the doctor came in
And soon pronounced her dead.

Billy Joe will you come back to me
If you can?
I'll be glad.
You were the only thing
I cared about
As an old, ageing man.

Billy Joe will you come back to me
If you can?
I'll be glad.
You were the only thing
I cared about
As an old, ageing man.

Mr. Hamilton had a dog
Called Billy Joe.
But this dog had run away
A long, long time ago.
And one cloudy afternoon
He went to the cemetery.
And he found the dog just sitting by
Mrs. Hamilton's grave.