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Billy Murray: The Denver Nightingale

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No knows exactly how he received the nickname The Denver Nightingale. Many say that the name was assigned to him by singer, pioneer, recording artist Samuel Holland Rous, but one thing that is certain is that he embraced the nickname like no other. Billy Murray was born by the name William Thomas Murray on May 25, 1877. By the time that Murray passed away at age 77 on August 17, 1954, he would go on to become one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century. Murray was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Irish parents Patrick and Julia Murray in County Kerry, Ireland. His parents would later move to the United States and raise him in Denver Colorado around the early 1880s. Murray became fascinated …show more content…

In the song lyrics such as “They were the best pals that I ever had I never thought that I'd want them so bad Gee but I'd give the world to see That old gang of mine” suggest that Billy should be missing and longing for the friendship that he had with his comrades but instead Billy doesn't like to mention the war because he didn't have a “gang” to miss. Billy didn't have a “gang” when the war was going on and he doesn't have a gang in the present because he's not close to his friends or his family members. Vonnegut writes his novel in this manner in order to depict the imbalance of war and comradery as part of his anti-war …show more content…

In chapter 5 of Slaughterhouse-Five Valencia mentions to Billy that she will lose weight for him but Billy lies to her by replying “I like you just the way you are” (Vonnegut, 120). Billy is lying to his wife when he knows that in the back of his head he was thinking that it was going to be bearable just for a while now. The couple despite being married just don't have the kind of relationship that a married couple should have. Although Valencia dearly loves Billy, Billy doesn't have that show that same love towards her. Their relationship is very imbalance. Billy is to blame for that. In chapter 5 of the novel, Billy recalls his wedding night with Valencia after they got done making love Valencia asks Billy about war. Reluctant to talk Billy gets up and goes to the bathroom and finds himself living in the past once again. The slightest mention of war and Billy immediately cringes and checks himself out of reality. As an anti-war novel maybe war is to blame for the imbalance relationship that Billy has with his wife and I will explain more of that in a

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