Billy was born in a one room shack
On the Tennessee line by the railroad track
Caught a bad fever and he went blind
And his daddy ran off about the same time
His mama didn't know what to do with the boy
So she gave him daddy's old guitar as a toy.

Billy used to sit on the front porch swing
Pullin' off licks and bendin' those strings
Playing to the rhythm of the southbound train
Notes flyin' off his fingers like a hurricane
Couldn't see nothing never said a word
But he could sure imitate anything he heard.

He could rock he could roll (rock rock rock rockabilly)
Cry blues with soul (rock rock rock rockabilly)
Never went to school one single day but oh that boy could play
He could rock, rock, rock, rock-a-billy.

One day a man came to Billy's town
To hear that boy and his guitar sound
He said son you should be a star
Now Billy's ridin' around in a big long car
Making more money than he'll ever spend
'Cause he still has what he had back then.

He can rock he could roll (rock rock rock rockabilly)
Cry blues with soul (rock rock rock rockabilly)
Never went to school one single day but oh that boy could play
He could rock, rock, rock, rock-a-billy.

He can rock, rock, rock, rock-a-billy...