[Intro]
Well, in the town of Louisville
They got a man they call Big Bad Bill
I want to tell you, he sure was tough
And he certainly did strut his stuff
He had folks all scared to death
When he walked by, they held their breath
He was a fighting man, sure enough
Now Bill's took himself a wife
And he leads a different life

[Verse 1]
'Cause Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now
Married life has changed him somehow
Well, he's the man that they all used to fear
But now the people call him sweet poppa Willie dear
Stronger than Samson, I declare
'Til the brown-skinned mama bobbed his hair

[Verse 2]
Big Bad Bill don't fight anymore
Well, he washes dishes and he mops up that floor
Well, he used to spend his evenin's lookin' for a fight
Now he's got to see his mama every night
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now
[Outro]
Well, he used to spend his evenin's lookin' for a fight
Now he's got to see his mama every night
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now