Ballad Of Billy The Kid

by Billy Joel
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Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

From a (G)town known as Wheel ing, West Vir gin ia

rode a (G)boy with a six gun in his hand

And his (G)dar ing life of crime made him a (F)leg end in his time (G)east and west of the Ri o Grande

Well, he (G)start ed with a bank in (Em7)Col o ra do,

in the (G)pock et of his vest a (Em7)Colt he hid.

And his (G)age and his size

took the (F)tell er by sur prise (G)and the word spread of Bil ly the Kid.

Well, he (C)nev er trav elled heav y,

yes, he (Em)al ways rode a lone,

and he (C)soon put man y old er guns to shame.

Well, he (C)nev er had a sweet heart,

and he (Em)nev er had a home,

but the (C)cow boy and the ranch er knew his name.

Well, he (G)robbed his way from U tah to (Em7)O kla ho ma,

and the (G)law just (G)could not seem to track him (F)down.

And it (G)served his (G)leg end well,

for the (F)folks they love to tell (G)’bout when Bil ly the Kid came to town.

Well, (G)one cold (G)day a pos se (Em7)cap tured Bil ly,

and the (G)judge said, “String ’im up for (Em7)what he did.”

And the (G)cow boys (G)and their (Em7)kin like the (F)sea came pour in’ in to (G)watch

the hang in’ of Bil ly the Kid.

Well, he (C)nev er trav elled heav y, yes, he al ways rode a lone,

and he (C)soon put man y old er guns to shame.

And he (C)nev er had a sweet heart,

but he (Em)fi n’lly found a home

un der (C)neath the boot hill grave that bears his name.

From a (G)town known as Oy ster Bay, Long (F)Is land

rode a (G)boy with a six pack in his hand.

And his (G)dar ing life of crime made him a (F)leg end in his time (G)east and west of the Ri o Grande

Ballad Of Billy The Kid — Piano Lead Sheet

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"Ballad Of Billy The Kid" lead sheet with chords, melody, and lyrics. Play the melody while following chord symbols above. Perfect for sing-along or accompaniment. Key of G, 80 BPM.

Tip: Break this song into sections and master each one separately. The speed control lets you drill difficult passages at any tempo.

About “Ballad Of Billy The Kid”

Where are the chord symbols for "Ballad Of Billy The Kid" displayed?
Lead Sheet shows chord symbols (like Am, G7, C) above the melody line with lyrics below. Every chord change highlights in real time as the song plays, so you can play the melody with the right hand and follow chord shapes with the left. "Ballad Of Billy The Kid" is in G.
What key is "Ballad Of Billy The Kid" by Billy Joel played in?
Ballad Of Billy The Kid is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Ballad Of Billy The Kid"?
The arrangement plays at 80 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Ballad Of Billy The Kid" easy to play on piano?
This is an advanced arrangement. We recommend breaking it into sections and using the speed control to drill harder passages.
Can I download sheet music for "Ballad Of Billy The Kid"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Ballad Of Billy The Kid"?
"Ballad Of Billy The Kid" was originally performed by Billy Joel. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Ballad Of Billy The Kid"?
This arrangement uses 14 chords: Am7, Bm, C, D, D7, D9, Dm7, Dm9, +6 more.
What other songs by Billy Joel can I play here?
Try "SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT", "EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM", "CAPTAIN JACK". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Does "Ballad Of Billy The Kid" have chords and lyrics?
Yes! The Lead Sheet shows the melody with chord symbols (like Am, G, C) and full lyrics. Perfect for singing along or playing with a band. "Ballad Of Billy The Kid" is in the key of G at 80 BPM.
What chords are in "Ballad Of Billy The Kid"?
Open the Lead Sheet to see all chord symbols displayed above the melody line. The song is in the key of G, so you'll find chords common to that key. Each chord highlights in real time as the song plays.