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The Ballad of William Tell

from Unravelled Tales - Volume 1 by Sam Steffen

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lyrics

He arrived in town on this morning’s train
Nevermind his business, nevermind his name
Came seekin shelter from a pourin rain
And to quench a thirst he’d probably had too long
He stepped into a cheap hotel
Dipped the feather quill in the old ink well
Signed his name as William tell
The owner asked, “Will you be staying long?”
Just passin through, just passin through
Didn’t come for no appointment, nor no rendezvous
Passin through, I’m just passin through
To stay for just a night, or maybe two—either way I’m only passin thru

He had no luggage of which to speak
Just a long dark scar runnin down his cheek
Eyes that would’ve made a strong woman week
That seemed to know the truth and seek it out
Hotel owner’s daughter, miss Eleanor
Caught sight of th stranger comin in the door
Saw that he lodged in room number four
And then she went and asked her father who he was
He’s just passin through, just passin through
I’d leave him be, and so should you
He’s passin through, just passin through
He didn’t come to fall in love with you—leave him be, he’s only passin thru

But her father’s warning she did not heed
She stole into his room in her stocking feet
Knocked and entered and turned the key
And by morningtime, she still had not emerged
“O, Mr. Tell, won’t you tell me please
Is it your intention now to marry me?
Or do you still mean to up and leave?
Like you told my father that you would?”
I’m just passin through, just passing through
Didn’t come to settle, just to see the view
Passin through, I’m just passin through
Would’ve told you but I really thought you knew—darlin, I was only passin thru

Says Ms. Eleanor—“Well in that case,
Never again may I show my face
I will tell my father I have been disgraced,
And he will probably try to shoot you down,”
And before ms. Eleanor’s speech was done,
In comes her father with a big shotgun
Says to Mr. Tell, “Won’t you tell me son,
Just what it is you think that you are doin?”
I’m just passin through, just passin through
Now that I’ve stayed I best be getting to
Passin through, just passin through
Didn’t come to quarrel with the likes of you—you know I was only passin thru

“Well not so fast,” the hotel owner said
“Either you’ll marry sweet ellie here, or else you’ll be dead!”
And he aimed that gun at poor william’s head
Said, “Tell me, tell, what’s it gonna be?”
To William’s defense, Eleanor leapt to
The father panicked, shot poor willy through
and as the daughter cried, “what did you do?”
William tell, he spoke these final words:
Passin through, just passin through
Life sure ain’t long and there ain’t much to do
The pains are many and the pleasure’s few
I’ll die now, but someday so will you—all of us, we’re only passin through
Passin through, just passin through
With time enough to say hello, adieu
Passin through, just passin through
Just like every single breath you drew—All of us—we’re only passin through

credits

from Unravelled Tales - Volume 1, released March 5, 2021

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Sam Steffen Boise, Idaho

Sam Steffen is a Pennsylvania-bred, Boise-based singer-songwriter whose songs are the torch-wood for a new generation of folk music that has learned from the best stuff in the tradition and aims in spite of everything to keep the human spirit alive and kicking. A versatile musician and skilled finger-picker, Sam is at heart a story-teller, and a prolific one. ... more

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