Lyrics Steve Earle

Steve Earle

Billy and Bonnie

Billy was 17 and mean as hell

Bonnie said she was 30, it was hard to tell

Billy met Bonnie on a Saturday night

At the dirt track races, it was love at first sight

Bonnie was wilder than the west wind blows

Taught Billy every single thing he knows

But she never told billy what she left out

The part about the trouble when your times runs out

When the thrill is gone, when your deal goes south

It's all over when your time runs out

Bonnie said, "Billy, don't you think it's time

We moved on a little further down the line"

So they knocked off a Texaco south of town

Blew down the highway with the ragtop down

Billy woke Bonnie up about first light

Said, "You drive honey, I've been up all night"

Now Billy wasn't sweatin' no APB

‘Cause they didn't leave a single soul alive to see

The boy was just 16, made his mama proud

That don't mean nothin' when your time runs out

Bonnie kept pushin' that Cadillac

Billy passed out with the seat reared back

Slept through Louisiana, then just past dark

Bonnie pulled over in a roadside park

Left Billy sleeping and she called the cops

He never knew nothin' when the dime was dropped

Bonnie knew what she had to do

She called the sheriff and she cried on cue

And the state police rousted Billy out

He was dreaming about Bonnie when his time ran out

The sheriff told Billy, "Boy, you're bound to die

‘Cause this young lady's gonna testify

That you done took her off against her will

And she told us about the robbery and the boy you killed"

The judge said, "Billy, what you got to say

Before I have the sheriff carry you away"

Billy looked Bonnie right in the eye

But he didn't even have to ask her why

But he turned around as they led him out

He said, "I'll see you down in hell when your time runs out"