© Neil Adam 2001

Billie Dove was a silent movie star. I met a great old man in Gippsland who had 40 "signed" pictures of her, and he told me the story of why she quit making films.   Whether the story is completely true or not, it makes a good song!

Billie Dove, Sweet Billie Dove

You were sent from up above

To guide me on the road to love

I’ve forty pictures of Billie Dove

I still recall the time and place When I first saw your face

Mechanics’ Hall one Friday night They had your name out front in lights

I could be your Romeo Sitting here in Omeo

Wrap me up and roll me o- ver in your perfect love

I sent a letter when I could To her out there in Hollywood

Telling her of all the strife That can fill a young man’s life

As if by magic every time I dropped her a line

I received by return of post A picture of her that I loved the most

But as the rough goes with the smooth A man I met swore Here’s the truth

Howard Hughes bought the love Of sweet Billie Dove

Gave her a yacht and lots of pills A mansion somewhere in the hills

He made her leave her life in films Sweet Billie Dove

You know I’m no Howard Hughes, I only had one thing to lose

Till I heard of your death on the midday news Sweet Billie Dove

And now as through this life I race I always dream I’ll take my place

Beside you in that Land of Grace Sweet Billie Dove

Billie Dove Billie Dove

Perhaps we’ll meet in heaven above

And there we’ll go one better

Than forty pictures of  Billie Dove