From the recording The Dealer
Lyrics
Bring the House Down
(For Billy Hunsinger of the Lonesome Hobos, a country singer
of the old school, whose favorite expression was “Oh my…”)
Billy Hunsinger had a country band back in 1950 or so
Had his face on a glossy magazine, songs on the radio
Played the circuit from Kansas City to Tulsa ‘n Omaha
But his favorite place was up in ol’ De Kalb
Where they’d bring the house down
Chorus: He’d say, “Bring the house down, oh my,
“Bring the house down, at Hunter’s Palace up in
“Ol’ De Kalb, we’d bring the house down…”
“Had Buck Bon Roy on stand-up bass, Jess Lee on pedal steel
“Little Ry Jones bowed the fiddle, my, he could really reel
“Me, I strummed along ‘n sang, folks come from miles around
“Sat real quiet like in a church then we’d bring the house down…”
(chorus)
“After each show we’d cross the river to Gable Cotts saloon
“He’d pour us drinks, we’d sing ‘n laugh till dawn, betimes noon
“Them was the good ol’ golden days before Rock ‘n Roll come on
“Folks still played a buck to hear a sweet ‘n simple song
“Oh, play it sweet now…”
The last time I saw Billy, he was standin’ in a dark ol’ room
His gut all swole up with cancer, we knew he was goin’ soon
A tear come to his weary eye as he shared a final smile
“Just one more time before I die, like to bring the house down…”
Billy was big ol’ burly man, my, how he loved his rum
He was not always wise but he always fun
His face lit up like a harvest moon, beard white as a cloud
May he rise like a genii from a bottle here
And help us bring the house down…bring the house down
Oh yeah, bring the down, one more time for Bill, boys
Let’s bring the house down...bring the house down…