Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk
“Willie the Weeper” is a song about drug addiction. It is based on a standard vaudeville song, likely written in 1904. It is credited to Walter Melrose, Grant Rymal, Marty Bloom, who published it with Morris Edwin H & Co Inc in 1908. The first recording was likely by Freddie Keppard between 1923...
Oh well this is the story about Willie the Weeper
Now Willie the Weeper was a chimney sweeper
He had the habit, boy, he had it bad
Let me tell you bout a dream he had
Well he went to the hop house the other night
Wearin his goulashes, boy, they were shinin bright
Well he called to the boy said bring him some hop
Started in a smokin like he'd never stop
Oh well after he had smoked about a dozen pills
He says, "This oughta cure all my aches and ills"
Well he turned on his side and he went to sleep
Dreamed he was a sailor on the ocean deep
Oh well he played draw poker as they left the land
He won a million dollars on his very first hand
Well he played and he played until the crew went broke
Then he turned around and had another smoke
Oh well he came to the island of Siam
He rubbed his eyes and said, "I wonder where I am."
He played craps with the king, he won a million more
Had to leave the island cause the king got sore
Oh well he went to Monte Carlo where he played roulette
He couldn't lose a penny cause he won every bet
Well he played and he played until the bank went broke
Then he turned around and had another smoke
Oh well then he thought he better be a-sailing for home
Well he charted a ship and he sailed away alone
Oh well this ship hit a rock, he hit the floor
Oh well the dope gave out and the dream was o'er
Oh well that was the story about Willie the Weeper
Now Willie the Weeper was young pox eater
Some day a pill too many he'll take
And dreaming that he's dead he will forget to wake
Willie the Weeper was written by Marty Bloom & Walter Melrose.