In 1912, I was only a boy Hardly 10 years old The summer was dry, the sun in the sky Where secrets burn like matches In my Sunday best, I went down for a walk To Billy Barnum's house He was alone, no one was home So I had an idea I said to Billy, "let's go walking down in the ravine There's no one here for miles so we never will be seen If your folks are in Peoria, they won't be back for hours So let's go have some fun." We walked down through the tangle of trees I lost my bearing twice But then we emerged, the top of the earth And watched in silent wonder
We stood tall on the edge of the bridge When a gust of wind blew through I stumbled and weaved, and reached for his sleeve To try and find my balance But Billy lost his footing and he slipped off of the edge He caught himself with one hand on an overhanging ledge But his strength would only last him for a minute, maybe two Then he crashed down in the river He crashed down in the river A shallow grave on the outskirts of town Is where I laid him down A secret it's stayed, what happened that day With me and Billy Barnum With me and Billy Barnum