Well, way down yonder in Louisville
Lived a cat named Big Bad Bill
I wants to tell ya
Ah, the cat was rough and tough he would strut his stuff
Had the whole town scared to death
When he walked by, they all held their breath
He's a fightin' man, sure enough
And then Bill got himself a wife, now he leads a different life
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now
Married life done changed him somehow
He's the man the town used to fear
Now they all call him Sweet Papa Willy Dear
Stronger than Sampson I declare
'Til a brown-skinned woman's bobbed his hair
Big Bad Bill don't fight anymore (no, no, no)
He's doin' the dishes an' moppin' up that floor (yes he is)
Well he used to go out drinkin' lookin' for a fight
Now he gotta see that Sweet woman every night
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now
Aw, play it boys
Aw, yeah
Who
(I likes that, yeah, yeah, say I)
Ah, well, big Bad Bill don't fight anymore (no, he don't)
He's doin' the dishes 'n moppin' up that floor (yes he is)
Well he used to go out drinkin' lookin' for a fight
Now he gotta see that Sweet woman every night
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now (doin' the dishes)
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now (moppin' up that floor!)
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now
Yeah