"Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey?" is a classic jazz song written by Hughie Cannon in 1902. It tells the story of a woman named Billie Bailey, who is lamenting the absence of her husband, Bill Bailey. The song is set on a summer's day, with the sun shining bright. Billie is hanging clothes in her backyard while feeling upset and crying. She had married a brakeman from the B&O railroad, but he had abandoned her, causing her a lot of distress. She calls out to a crowd, presumably friends or neighbors, asking them to help her get Bill Bailey to come back home. In the chorus, Billie pleads for Bill Bailey to return home, expressing her longing for him. She promises to take care of everything, both cooking and paying the rent, admitting that she knows she has done something wrong. She recounts a previous incident when she threw him out in the rain with nothing but a comb, realizing that she is to blame for their separation. Bill Bailey then appears driving by in an elegant automobile, accompanied by a luxurious entourage. Billie hears him, and in desperation, she calls out to him, questioning if he is angry with her. She begs him to stop and listen to her, not wanting to end their relationship. Bill Bailey winks at her as he hears her cry. Overall, "Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey?" is a heartfelt plea from a woman to her absent husband, expressing the pain of separation and longing for reconciliation. The song has been covered by various artists throughout the years and has become a jazz standard.
