[Verse 1:]
His momma and his daddy were very poor, and they
never went to school.Billy followed in their

footsteps, like alot of children do.He had to get
a job to help pay the bills so his younger brother
Ben, might go to school to learn to read and

write, then maybe he can teach all of them.But,

[Chorus:]

Billy can't read, no Billy can't read but he
gives two hundred percent of the minimum wage that
he receives.Sometimes he pretends like he can as

he looks and laughs at the pictures in the funny
books, but it really ain't funny you see that
Billy can't read.


[Verse 2:]
Then the bossman came around and talked to Billy

one day.He says now Billy your the hardest worker
I've got and you sure deserve more pay.But the
boss at the top says I have to give every foreman

a written test.Billy hung his head cause he knew
right then he'd always have to settle for less. Cause,


[Repeat Chorus]
Billy can't read, no Billy can't read but he
gives two hundred percent of the minimum wage that

he receives.Sometimes he pretends like he can as
he looks and laughs at the pictures in the funny
books, but it really ain't funny you see that

Billy can't read.

[Verse 3:]

Little Ben never took for granted, all his brother
Billy sacrificed.Every night while the family
slept they would sit up late by that old

lamplight, soundin out the A's, and the E's and
the I's, O's, and U's.Now he's reading
evrything from the cereal box to the bible three

times through. Cause,

[Chorus:]

Billy can read, yeah Billy can read.Now the rest
of his life will be different because of the
special gift he received.Now he don't have to act

like he's laughing as he looks at the silly
pictures in those funny books.There as funny as
they can be, now that Billy can read. His life is

much better now that Billy can read.