can anyone remember it or who sung it?

Run Run Billy Porter
By: Shadows Of Knight
(Kasenetz/Katz)
1969

Annie came to town this morning
Lookin' for her cheatin' man
She said Billy Porter hadn't done what he oughta
And she's gonna get him if she can

You better run run Billy Porter
She's got a gun gun Billy Porter
You better run
(You better run)

Billy stayed out all evening
And he didn't come home at all
And while Annie was a sleepin' her Billy was a-creepin'
Creepin' up a Ellie May's wall

You better run run Billy Porter
She's got a gun gun Billy Porter
You better run
(You better run)

Last time I saw Billy
He was headin' on over the hill
Well he took Billy flyin' tears and a cryin' [need help with this line!]
I'm gonna catch you yes I will

You better run run Billy Porter
She's got a gun gun Billy Porter
You better run
(You better run)

billy porter was sang by mick ronson :) classic track was never the hit it deserved to be

Originally posted by panda79
billy porter was sang by mick ronson :) classic track was never the hit it deserved to be

That's correct. "Billy Porter" was on the the 1974 Mick Ronson LP "Play Don't Worry".

The Shadows Of Knight track "Run Run Billy Porter" is a different song from the late 60s

Originally posted by mojoworking


The Shadows Of Knight track "Run Run Billy Porter" is a different song from the late 60s

i thought i didn't reconise the words...there's me thinking i was going mad

kazaa has no record of it..gutted:(

Did Mick Ronson have something to do with David Bowie...?

oops sorry, it was the first thing I found and didn't think there would be that many songs about billy porter.

:thumbsup:

is this it?

BILLY PORTER
Album : Play Don't Worry 1975
(Words & Music : Mick Ronson)


Walking down an empty road
I saw a man in old grey clothes
A stranger

Passing by he smiled at me
But when I looked I realised the danger

For his eyes they looked so empty and cold
And something told me that I'm gonna be rolled
In my pocket only cents and dimes
But then for them he'd gladly kill me

Walking past and walking fast
I managed just to slip around a corner

Thought he'd hear my running feet
As I went pounding down the street
Like thunder

Well I've never heard my heart beat so fast
And I've never been so scared in the past
And I never ever realised
That this place could be evil to me

Billy Porter
You didn't tell me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter
When you wrote you said
That this place is fun
What have I done

Well I've never heard my heart beat so fast
And I've never been so scared in the past
And I never ever realised
That this place could be evil to me
Let me tell ya'

Now Billy's smart and Billy's tough
He's good to have
When the going's rough
He told me

"Don't go out on your own at night
For if you do you'll have to fight
Stay by me"

Now he's teaching me
Each and every day
And I think that in this place
I might stay
And I never, ever realised
What a roughneck I would turn out to be

Billy Porter
You never told me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter
When you wrote you said
That this place is fun
What can be done

Billy Porter
You never told me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter
When you wrote you said
That this place is fun

Billy Porter
You never told me that I'd be on the run
Billy Porter
What would father say if he saw his son
Billy Porter
You never told me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter
When you wrote you said
That this place is fun

Mick Ronson was, I think, in David Bowie's backing band.

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
Mick Ronson was, I think, in David Bowie's backing band.

Yes Mick Ronson was on all of Bowie's albums from 1970 - 73: The Man Who Sold The World to Pin Ups (ie all the good ones).

Together with Bowie, he co-produced (and played on) the Lou Reed album Transformer.

He later worked with Bob Dylan on the Rolling Thunder Tour in 1976/77 and made a few albums with Ian Hunter from Mott The Hoople.

Not only that, he was a Yorkshire lad as well (from Hull).

He sadly died in 1993.

I have got the 45 record of billy porter.not heard it for years.gr8 song tho.think il hunt it out now.you've got me started on the old records now,think il search for 10cc-dreadlock holiday as well.oh i can feel my youth coming on AGAIN!

Originally posted by bonny
is this it?

BILLY PORTER
Album : Play Don't Worry 1975
(Words & Music : Mick Ronson)


Walking down an empty road
I saw a man in old grey clothes
A stranger

Passing by he smiled at me
But when I looked I realised the danger

For his eyes they looked so empty and cold
And something told me that I'm gonna be rolled
In my pocket only cents and dimes
But then for them he'd gladly kill me

Walking past and walking fast
I managed just to slip around a corner

Thought he'd hear my running feet
As I went pounding down the street
Like thunder

Well I've never heard my heart beat so fast
And I've never been so scared in the past
And I never ever realised
That this place could be evil to me

Billy Porter
You didn't tell me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter
When you wrote you said
That this place is fun
What have I done

Well I've never heard my heart beat so fast
And I've never been so scared in the past
And I never ever realised
That this place could be evil to me
Let me tell ya'

Now Billy's smart and Billy's tough
He's good to have
When the going's rough
He told me

"Don't go out on your own at night
For if you do you'll have to fight
Stay by me"

Now he's teaching me
Each and every day
And I think that in this place
I might stay
And I never, ever realised
What a roughneck I would turn out to be

Billy Porter
You never told me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter
When you wrote you said
That this place is fun
What can be done

Billy Porter
You never told me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter
When you wrote you said
That this place is fun

Billy Porter
You never told me that I'd be on the run
Billy Porter
What would father say if he saw his son
Billy Porter
You never told me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter
When you wrote you said
That this place is fun

cheers bonny:thumbsup:

I too have the original 45, and still play it occasionally. It's one of my favorite songs. My brother can do the high bits in the harmonies. (I can't)
Mick was a practising Mormon, which wasn't revealed until after he died. Surprised a few people, including me.
If you listen to the "Bowie at the Beeb" CD, it has Bowie and Ronson's first ever performance together, on a John Peel session. Well worth a listen.
The now famous Lou Reed song, Perfect Day, features Mick on Piano and "Arrangements". Many felt at the time that the success of that album, Transformer, was due as much to Mick as anyone.
Ian Hunter nicknamed him "Bat out of Hull"
A truely lovely guy, and sadly missed.

kazaa has no record of it..gutted:(
Hi, Kirky try DC++ I got it from there. It was released in 1975. Mick Ronson was the guitarist for David Bowie

Did Mick Ronson have something to do with David Bowie...?


This was one of my first ever posts...!

This was one of my first ever posts...!
Check this site out to find more about Mick Ronson (one of the spiders from mars)http://www.5years.com/spiders.htm

Mick effectively co-wrote much of David Bowie's early stuff, he wasn't put down as co-writer though and unfortunately his widow doesn't get the royalties that she really should.

Check out this book.. The Spider With The Platinum Hair by Wierd and Gilly - all u need to know about 'Ronno' ..sadly missed

One of the highlights of the "Aladdin Sane" tour was Ronno's solo on "Panic in Detroit" played on a white Les Paul. It went on long enough for the rest of the band to leave the stage and have a refreshing cup of tea.

Those really were the days!!!

kazaa has no record of it..gutted:(

Some "Online" Juke boxes have it. I've played it on the pub next to Owlerton Stadium's JB. It is truly glorious and deserves a much higher profile

kazaa has no record of it..gutted:(

Well I’ll be blowed! Don’t you just love technology??
I’ve just been on to my digital music supplier, Ovi Music, and there, as large as life, is “Billy Porter” by Mick Ronson – downloadable for the princely sum of 79 New Pence (£0 -15/10d in old money) so now everyone can get hold of it (It wasn’t there last time I checked, just before Christmas)
Go to http://music.ovi.com/global/en/pc/storeselector and do a search on Mick Ronson. It’s on the album “Play Don’t Worry” which you can buy in its entirety for 8 quids. The album also has a stunning version of “White Light White Heat” on it, worth the entrance fee on its own
I suspect that if it is on Ovi it will be on other download systems

I now have it blaring out from my PC in glorious technocolour!!! The Gods are smiling

:headbang::headbang:

billy porter was sang by mick ronson :) classic track was never the hit it deserved to be

Totally agree with you. I used to out it on Juke box all the time. Love the song

Yup, Mick Ronson ( A Yorkshireman by the way) sang Billy Porter, it was on his 'Play Don't Worry' album.

I loved this
billy porter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJWt2ioJL5g)

Yup, Mick Ronson ( A Yorkshireman by the way) sang Billy Porter, it was on his 'Play Don't Worry' album.

Not just one great track, but on the whole a great album.

Mick Ronson was described to my son who was learning guitar at the time as 'He just makes a noise ........ but what a noise'!

IMHO never received enough recognition, and Billy Porter one of the few tracks receiving regular stereo play since I first heard it.

can anyone remember it or who sung it?

mick ronson from play dont worry

I'm trying to work out what the high pitched backing singers are saying?

Billy Porter (Silly Willy Billy Porter)
You didn't tell me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter (?????????????????)
When you wrote you said

I loved this
billy porter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJWt2ioJL5g)

Classic …….. just been transported back to my college days.

Classic …….. just been transported back to my college days.
Glorious innit??

Is this Pete who recently retired, used to work in Barnsley ?

Is this Pete who recently retired, used to work in Barnsley ?

No, younger brother Steve
Pete contributes under his own name - see "Parson Cross" thread

Ive got the LP "Play Dont Worry"

Oh My Goodness, what memories! I'm 11 again!

Yes Mick Ronson was on all of Bowie's albums from 1970 - 73: The Man Who Sold The World to Pin Ups (ie all the good ones).

Together with Bowie, he co-produced (and played on) the Lou Reed album Transformer.

He later worked with Bob Dylan on the Rolling Thunder Tour in 1976/77 and made a few albums with Ian Hunter from Mott The Hoople.

Not only that, he was a Yorkshire lad as well (from Hull).

He sadly died in 1993.

And Ian Hunter ensured that Mick would live forever with this amazing song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmes2qOQzWw&feature=related

Always get lump in throat when lve seen I H perform that.. Ronno - underated & sadly missed

Always get lump in throat when lve seen I H perform that.. Ronno - underated & sadly missed

There's a great picture of him (Ronno) in Neil Anderson's book "Dirty Stopouts" which is about 70s night life in Sheffield
There's also a picture of a ticket for Bowie at the City Hall, 6 jun 1973 (Alladin Sane tour)
We were all there weren't we?? Well, I certainly was
:headbang:

Well Kirky, if you were a Sheffielder in the `70s you might have heard the Bitter Suite sing it as part of their set at the time.
But time may have blurred my memory because a guy called John Parr sprang up and his band, Ponders End used to include it in their act. I think they may have recorded Billy Porter. Was it that version that you heard.
Can anyone add to, or correct any of the above ?

is this it?

BILLY PORTER
Album : Play Don't Worry 1975
(Words & Music : Mick Ronson)


Walking down an empty road
I saw a man in old grey clothes
A stranger

Passing by he smiled at me
But when I looked I realised the danger

For his eyes they looked so empty and cold
And something told me that I'm gonna be rolled
In my pocket only cents and dimes
But then for them he'd gladly kill me

Walking past and walking fast
I managed just to slip around a corner

Thought he'd hear my running feet
As I went pounding down the street
Like thunder

Well I've never heard my heart beat so fast
And I've never been so scared in the past
And I never ever realised
That this place could be evil to me

Billy Porter
You didn't tell me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter
When you wrote you said
That this place is fun
What have I done

Well I've never heard my heart beat so fast
And I've never been so scared in the past
And I never ever realised
That this place could be evil to me
Let me tell ya'

Now Billy's smart and Billy's tough
He's good to have
When the going's rough
He told me

"Don't go out on your own at night
For if you do you'll have to fight
Stay by me"

Now he's teaching me
Each and every day
And I think that in this place
I might stay
And I never, ever realised
What a roughneck I would turn out to be

Billy Porter
You never told me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter
When you wrote you said
That this place is fun
What can be done

Billy Porter
You never told me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter
When you wrote you said
That this place is fun

Billy Porter
You never told me that I'd be on the run
Billy Porter
What would father say if he saw his son
Billy Porter
You never told me that I needed a gun
Billy Porter
When you wrote you said
That this place is funThats Better :hihi:

Mick Ronson was one of the most underated guitarists of all time, but he virtually invented the Glam Rock guitar sound and as has been said before on here, he co-wrote alot of early Bowie songs without getting the credit.

The Ziggy Stardust album still sounds as fresh, even today, awesome stuff.

Always thought his name was Bill Ronson?Could be wrong though.

Always thought his name was Bill Ronson?Could be wrong though.

It's Mick......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Ronson

we used to dance to billy porter in the crazy daisy, fantastic song brings back the good days, thanks for the memories xx:)

Bittersuite sang it and john parr sometimes appeared with them,he had his own band ponders end.I so bittersuite the night Barry mashall then the lead singer with bs announced that John was going to america.great band had some great nights out thanx to them

i believe it was nick ronson did it go something like this ----walking down an empty road i saw a man in old grey clothes a stranger---walking past and looking back i managed just to realise the danger--oh his eyes they were so empty and cold and something told me i was gonner be rolled =oh i never ever realised that this place could be evil to me ==billy porter billy billy porter when you wrote you said that this place was fun--billy porter billy billy porter you never told me that i needed a gun-------------------it went something like that or words very similar it was a long time ago

i believe it was nick ronson did it go something like this ----walking down an empty road i saw a man in old grey clothes a stranger---walking past and looking back i managed just to realise the danger--oh his eyes they were so empty and cold and something told me i was gonner be rolled =oh i never ever realised that this place could be evil to me ==billy porter billy billy porter when you wrote you said that this place was fun--billy porter billy billy porter you never told me that i needed a gun-------------------it went something like that or words very similar it was a long time ago

It was Mick, awesome guitarist, actually learned the violin as a kid and always reckoned that was the reason why he had such a different approach to guitar work. Check out the guitar solo at the end of the song "Moonage Daydream" on the Ziggy Stradust album ("album", you can tell how old I am! lol)

can anyone remember it or who sung it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txWfLFkHMPA found this for you

Still got Mick Ronson's Albums - I bought em new, and forgot about them until now.

Play Don't Worry & Slaughter on 10th Avenue.

Don't if He made any others as a Solo - ish Artist ?

Still got my Thorens TD160 Turntable / Shure cartridge , Pioneer Tuner/Amp & Wharefedale Linton speakers to play em on too , all purchased around the same time if I remember correctly . Beats the heck out of cold - clinical Cd's .......

Hello fellow Ronno fans,
Did you know that we have a campaign on the go in an attempt to have Mick enrolled in to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, Ohio?
As part of the campaign (only part mind) and since 2008 there has been a petition which supporters of the campaign can sign and leave any comments, (I pass all the comments on to Suzi and Lisa, Micks widow and daughter, whom I work closely with on the campaign)
The address for the petition is ipetitions.com/petition/ronno it'll only take a moment and it's free (you may get a pop up asking to donate to the Ipetitions for their websites upkeep - but that has nothing to do with our petition and is totally voluntary)
You'll see that this is actually the 2nd petition, the first one was closed with 3,500+ signatures
Amongst the activities we've put on is the (now) annual Mick Ronson celebration held in Hull, featuring many live bands, some containing folk who had worked with Mick. The next one will be around June 2012. There is also an equivalent celebration held in Cleveland around the same time.
Also as part of the campaign and on our behalf, David Bowie has written a personal letter to the HOF recommending Mick for induction, we've also had other support from the many many artist Mick worked with during his career. (check the graphic below which I'd created for the petition, it'll give some indication to the amount of people Mick worked with)
If you'd like any more information, then please don't hesitate to contact me, Colin Blades via here or thru the Facebook page facebook.com/group.php?gid=63712874624.
If you would like more information on Mick (and there's a lot) then please pay a visit to mickronson.com

Thanks for reading
Colin
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t66/foreign_press/38882766.jpg

A very worthy cause Colin - I sincerely hope it reeps rewards.
Great meeting you at Neil's book launch BTW

Go Ronno!!

Thanks Bushbaby.
It was a very enjoyable day wasn't it, everyone was in good form.

Thanks Bushbaby.
It was a very enjoyable day wasn't it, everyone was in good form.

Did you see the "lost Footage" of Bowie and the band on TOTP, Christmas Day, doing Jean Genie, shot through a fish-eye lense?
Ronno was at his mightiest. It really was superb