[Intro — Cedar flute solo over heartbeat drum] (Low drum: BOOM-boom-BOOM-boom…) (Flute weaves a lonely, wandering melody) (Soft chanting voices, as if calling a spirit:) Hey-ya hey-ya… hey-ya hey… Bill-eeee… stray boy… way-oh-way… [Verse 1 — Spoken-sung over drum and soft claps] (Lead, earthy voice) Before the redwood knew his name Before the highway carved the plain There walked a shadow, four paws on the ground Bill the Road Boy — the first sound He read the river like an old, old song Knew the buffalo grass all along Every sacred hill, every eagle high He was a prayer running ’neath the sky (Chorus — full soul lift, handclaps enter, call-and-response) (Lead, high) Oh-oh-oh, Bill the Road Boy! (Response) Never ties his shoes! (Hey!) (Lead) Dances with the dust in the sunset hues (Response) Dance, brother, dance! (Lead) Drinks from crystal creeks, mountain’s holy tears (Response) Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka near! (Lead) Tangoes with the rainbow, world is fast asleep (Response) Spirit never cheap! (All) Life is a tale of cunning, joy, and soul — Bill the Road Boy, let the great drum roll! Clap! Clap! Clap-clap-clap! [Verse 2 — Groove tightens, wah-wah guitar, chant echoes] (Lead) No master but the wind, no leash but the light (Response) Hey-ya hey! (Lead) He plays hide-and-seek with the morning star bright (Response) Star that guides the night! (Lead) Steals a grin from every human face (Response) Then melts without a trace (Lead) Into the golden prairie, into the canyon deep (Response) Where the ancient spirits sleep [Pre-Chorus — Drum builds, flute dances, claps intensify] (Drum: BOOM-boom-ba-boom!) When the sun burns hot on his shaggy crown He don’t burn out, he don’t lay down He just slides to the shade of a cottonwood tree Where the grandfather spirits roam wild and free [Chorus — Full power, handclaps, soul choir chanting Sioux vocables] (Lead, soaring high) Oh-oh-oh, Bill the Road Boy! (Response) Never ties his shoes! (Hey! Hey!) (Lead) Dancin’ with the dust till the sky turn blues! (Response) Dance, road boy, dance! (Lead) Drinkin’ from a crystal creek, mountain’s gift so true (Response) Wičháȟpi pȟetá (Star Fire) fuel! (Lead) Tango ’neath the rainbow, world is in a dream (Response) He a spirit beam! (All) Life is a tale of cunning, joy, and soul — Bill the Road Boy, that stray road boy Let the good times roll! Clap! Clap! Clap-clap-clap! [Bridge — Half-time, cedar flute solo, spoken with deep reverence] (Drum slows to heartbeat. Flute cries gently.) (Lead, speaking like a storyteller over humming) Some say he’s a phantom… some just a hound But the elders know: a sacred clown If you catch him napping in the sweetgrass bend You’ll understand a road that never ends (Chant enters softly) Hey-ya, Bill, hey-ya, boy Your wandering is our joy. [Chorus — Key change, joyful release, hand drums and stomps] (Lead, ecstatic) Oh-oh-oh, Bill the Road Boy! (Response) Never needs a pair of shoes! (Hey!) (Lead) Dust-dancing warrior, paying rainbow dues! (Response) Dance, spirit, dance! (Lead) Crystal water, mountain’s ancient song (Response) He carries it along! (Lead) Tango in the twilight where the coyotes laugh (Response) On the shining path! (All) Life is a tale of cunning, joy, and soul — Bill the Road Boy, that stray road boy Let the good times roll! [Outro — Fade with drum, flute, distant howl, chanting] (Lead, ad-libbing high) Bill! Bill the Road Boy! (Chanting echoes) Hey-ya hey-ya… awooo… (Flute fades out with one last soul cry) Whoa-oh-ohhhhh… (Drum: BOOM… boom… silence)
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